At a conference held on July 5th, Guangdong emphasized its commitment to advancing high-level opening-up through the "five-factor synergy" strategy. As a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up, Guangdong aims to lead by example, strengthening its role as a pillar of the open economy, exploring new pathways for institutional openness, serving as a crucial link between domestic and international markets, and securing its position as a vital gateway for national security. These efforts are intended to contribute significantly to the nation's broader goals.

20.77% increase in new foreign-funded enterprises in the first five months of 2024

In July, projects in the Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Industrial Park were in full swing. During the first five months of 2024, Phase one of ExxonMobil's Huizhou ethylene project began equipment testing and trial operation, the overall design and basic design of the CNOOC and Shell Phase III project was completed, and the BASF expansion project was put into operation as scheduled.

In Guangzhou, the Office of Canton Investment Development Commission was established at the end of June. Peter Helis, director of global investment promotion at the Guangzhou Development District investment promotion bureau, has lived in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for nearly 20 years and is actively promoting investment in Guangzhou. He highlights Guangzhou's top-tier research resources, rich talent pool, excellent business environment, and high-quality living services, making it a prime location for investment with vast development space and unlimited business opportunities.

These are just glimpses of Guangdong's "five-factor synergy" strategy in action, aiming at attracting and utilizing foreign investment more effectively while fostering mutual reinforcement between domestic and foreign trade and investment.

In 2023, Guangdong saw a 62.3% increase in the number of new foreign-funded enterprises, with actual foreign investment reaching 159.2 billion yuan. The manufacturing sector alone utilized 49.22 billion yuan, up by 11.7%, with high-tech manufacturing surging by 40.5%. From January to May this year, the number of new foreign-funded enterprises grew by 20.77%, with actual foreign investment hitting 47.93 billion yuan.

13.6% increase in import and export in the first five months of 2024

Currently, Guangdong leads the country in digital economy scale, boasting dual advantages as a major trade province and a digital powerhouse. The province focuses on developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a global leader in trade digitization, with digital trade becoming a key component of Guangdong's service trade.

In the first five months of this year, Guangdong's foreign trade imports and exports totaled 3.59 trillion yuan, a 13.6% increase year-on-year, outpacing the national growth rate by 7.3 percentage points. Exports reached 2.33 trillion yuan, up by 10.7%, while imports grew by 19.2% to 1.26 trillion yuan. Notably, the export of certain electromechanical products surged, reflecting the significant impact of Guangdong's "five-factor" synergy strategy.

China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone yields 696 institutional innovation achievements over nine years

The "five-factor" synergy strategy propels Guangdong toward building a higher-level open economy, with a key focus on the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone(GDFTZ), a pioneering zone for deepening reform and opening-up.

In terms of industry, GDFTZ prioritizes the development of advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries. Nansha Districtpromotes the integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services, hosting over 800 AI and life health enterprises. Qianhai District focuses on financial services, modern logistics, information services, technology, and professional services, with these sectors contributing over 80% of the area's added value. Hengqin District supports Macao's diversified industrial development, concentrating on technological R&D, high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, cultural tourism, convention and exhibition business, trade, and modern finance.

Over the past nine years, GDFTZ has achieved 696 institutional innovation results, with 43 being promoted nationwide and 216 replicated across the province. It has published 301 institutional innovation cases, with eight recognized as national best practices.

全力打好“五外联动”组合拳，广东高水平对外开放有招数

广东7月5日举行的实施“五外联动”推进高水平对外开放大会强调，广东作为改革开放的排头兵、先行地、实验区，必须在推进高水平对外开放上走在前、作表率，全力当好开放型经济发展的“顶梁柱”，勇做新征程制度型开放的“探路人”，建强联通国内国际双循环的“链接地”，筑牢开放安全的“南大门”，为全国大局作出新的更大贡献。

今年前5个月新设外资企业数增长20.77%

进入7月，惠州大亚湾石化区各个项目忙碌不停。今年前5月，埃克森美孚惠州乙烯一期项目开始进行装置调试、试运行，中海壳牌三期项目总体设计和基础设计已完成，巴斯夫扩建等项目如期投产。

在广州，广州市投资发展委员会办公室于6月底挂牌成立。作为在粤港澳大湾区生活了近20年的外国友人，广州开发区黄埔区全球招商总监贺励平每天忙着为广州招商，“广州，包括我所在的广州开发区、黄埔区都拥有一流的科研资源、丰富的人才储备、优越的营商环境和贴心的生活服务，在这里投资发展空间广阔、商机无限。”

这是广东打好“五外联动”组合拳的缩影——以更大力度吸引和利用外资，加快推动内外贸内外资互促双强。

数据显示，2023年，广东省新设外资企业数量增长62.3%，实际吸收外资1592亿元；制造业实际利用外资492.2亿元、增长11.7%，其中高技术制造业增长40.5%。今年1月—5月新设外资企业数量增长20.77%，实际使用外资479.3亿元。

今年前5个月进出口同比增长13.6%

当前，广东数字经济规模全国第一，兼具贸易强省与数字强省双重优势，着力推动粤港澳大湾区建设全球贸易数字化领航区。数字贸易正成为广东服务贸易的重要组成部分。

今年前5个月，广东外贸进出口3.59万亿元，较去年同期（下同）增长13.6%，增速比全国高出7.3个百分点。其中，出口2.33万亿元，增长10.7%；进口1.26万亿元，增长19.2%。特别是机电类部分商品出口增长迅猛、表现强劲——这也是广东抓“五外联动”成效显著的显现。

广东自贸试验区9年累计形成制度创新成果696项

“五外联动”推动广东建设更高水平开放型经济新体制，其中一大重点就是耕好全面深化改革和扩大开放的“试验田”——中国（广东）自由贸易试验区（以下简称“广东自贸试验区”）。

从产业方面来说，广东自贸试验区重点发展先进制造业和战略性新兴产业。南沙推动先进制造业与现代服务业融合发展，集聚800多家人工智能和生命健康企业；前海金融、现代物流、信息服务、科技和专业服务等主导产业增加值占全区80%以上；横琴围绕支持澳门产业多元发展，重点发展科技研发和高端制造、中医药、文旅会展商贸产业以及现代金融等。

9年来，广东自贸试验区累计形成制度创新成果696项，在全国复制推广43项；在全省复制推广216项；发布制度创新案例301个，其中8个成为全国最佳实践案例。

文丨记者 孙绮曼
翻译丨赵凡