Guangzhou deepens European trade ties

Guangzhou representatives gave a presentation to the 2017 World Route Development Forum held in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, seeking greater business opportunities with its European partners.

Guangzhou's promo theme, Guangzhou Flower City in Bloom, was projected during the live broadcast flag ceremony during the forum, putting the city under the spotlight in front of an online audience from about 200 countries and regions.

Representatives from the Guangzhou municipal government, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as well as China Southern Airlines attended the forum, one of the largest annual international aviation events around the world.

Guangzhou's promotional activities were an excellent display of Guangdong province's culture, said Ramn Robert, CEO of RCD Espanyol, a Spanish football club.

China is a significant market for the club, said Robert, who decided this October to go to Guangzhou to popularize his club.

Trade between Guangzhou and Spain rose considerably in January to July, according to the Guangzhou Municipal Commission of Commerce.

The total trade between Guangzhou and Spain in the period reached 4.17 billion yuan ($640 million), increasing 24.5 percent year-on-year. The city's export volumes to Spain reached 2.92 billion yuan, an increase of 25.6 percent year-on-year and its import volumes rose to 1.25 billion yuan, an increase of 22.1 percent year-on-year.

Trade between Guangzhou and Europe also rose during those months.

The total trade volume between Guangzhou and Europe overall reached 95.04 billion yuan, an increase of 40 percent year-on-year.

The city's export volumes to Europe reached 56.27 billion yuan, an increase of 38 percent year-on-year; its import volumes from Europe reached 38.77 billion yuan, an increase of 42.9 percent year-on-year.

Guangzhou will host the Fortune Global Forum 2017 from Dec 6-8 this year. On Jan 20, 2017 the Guangzhou Fortune Global Forum Promotion Conference was held in Paris.

On June 12, a second promotion conference was held in Munich. Cai Chaolin, director of Guangzhou 2017 Fortune Global Forum Executive Committee said Guangzhou's wish to attract more German companies to the city at the conference. Two days after the Munich event, another promotion conference was held in London.

Heads of Fortune magazine as well as a number of Fortune Global 500 companies based in the United Kingdom attended the event, discussing development opportunities for global companies in China.

"Guangzhou is a huge market with boundless opportunities and potential, as well as an engine of growth and innovation. Here, you can also have good food and great fun," said Cai.

Currently, there are 138 confirmed participants from the Fortune Global 500 for the 2017 Guangzhou Fortune Global Forum.