The 8th Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference China & the 1st Global Unicorn CEO Forum Macao Session takes place in Macao on March 1. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

Guests from Guangzhou and Macao exchange opinions during the conference. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

The 8th Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference China & the 1st Global Unicorn CEO Forum Macao Session was held in Macao on March 1, with Guangzhou Macao Center and Macao signing a strategic cooperation agreement of more than 2 billion yuan（$320 million）.

According to the agreement, the Guangzhou Macao Center will be developed into a commercial complex with Hong Kong and Macao characteristics, while also serving as a technology, finance, and digital economy headquarters base with international influence.

This was the first time for the annual conference to set up a branch venue in Macao. In recent years, the exchanges between Guangzhou and Macao have been deepening. In 2021, the total import and export value of Guangzhou and Macao was $346 million, with a year-on-year increase of 24.54 percent, with the total amount of investment attracted from Macao increasing by 143.8 percent. The number of Macao enterprises newly established in Guangzhou also increased by 66.7 percent year-on-year.

"Guangzhou looks forward to working with Macao by continuing to deepen exchanges in trade exhibitions, scientific and technological innovation, cultural creativity, smart city construction, as well as the application of traditional Chinese medicine," said Hong Qian, director of the Guangzhou municipal commerce bureau.