The 8th China Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference and the First Global Unicorn CEO Forum overseas sessions were held at Heidelberg, Germany, and San Francisco, the United States respectively from March 10 to 11.

Participants from Guangzhou and Germany had in-depth discussions about green investment development opportunities in Guangzhou.

Peter Helis, director of global investment promotion at the Guangzhou Development District investment promotion bureau, gave an overview of Guangzhou's economic development, as well as the city's potential regarding innovation, technological transformation, and green smart city development.

Helis said that he has lived in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for nearly 20 years and has witnessed the city's economic development progressing in parallel with its ecological and environmental protection efforts. He added that Guangzhou looks forward to cooperating with all walks of life in the green economy field.

Dr. Daniel Frerichs, director of the Guangzhou Development District offshore innovation center in Heidelberg, said that many German companies are optimistic about Guangzhou's future development.

"As an international business center, Guangzhou has great opportunities to promote green transformation," he said. "Guangzhou has made significant progress in emerging industries, such as the internet of things, digital economy, smart cities, and green cities."

Frerichs added that he believes that Europe's green technology could have good development in Guangzhou.

Thomas Feith, mayor of Bingen, Germany, said that he was deeply impressed by Guangzhou's economic development, especially its future technology and green city development. He added that Bingen looks forward to having more knowledge exchanges and cooperation with Guangzhou.

The 8th China Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference and the First Global Unicorn CEO Forum overseas Heidelberg session. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

During the San Francisco session, more than 50 participants gathered to discuss cooperation opportunities between Guangzhou and the US in a green economy and sustainable development investment.

In 2021, the total value of import and export between the US and Guangzhou was $18.29 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 22.1 percent, while the number of new US-invested enterprises in Guangzhou increased by 75.5 percent year-on-year.

Judy Lee, general manager of Guangzhou's Silicon Valley Office in the US, said that economic and trade exchanges between the Greater Bay Area and the San Francisco Bay Area, two world-class bay areas, are still active even though the global economy has been affected by multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Guangzhou continues to become more attractive to foreign investment," she said.
"In 2021, six American enterprises in the artificial intelligence, medical technology, and other fields settled in Guangzhou. In the future, the two regions should continue cooperating in high-tech fields, as well as in investment and research areas."

The 8th China Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference and the First Global Unicorn CEO Forum overseas San Francisco session. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]