Despite all of the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ma Xiuhong, former vice-minister of commerce and chairman of the China Council for International Investment Promotion, remains optimistic that the south China province of Guangdong will usher in new opportunities of high-level opening-up and maintain its allure as a major destination for foreign investment.

Ma made these comments when she addressed the fourth Guangdong Investment Development Forum and the 2020 annual conference of the Guangdong Investment Promotion Association.

Ma Xiuhong, former vice-minister of commerce and chairman of the China Council for International Investment Promotion, delivers a speech during the forum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Held in Guangzhou on Nov 26, the events were jointly organized by the China Council for International Investment Promotion, the Guangdong Investment Promotion Association, the Guangzhou Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, and the Foshan Investment Promotion Agency.

Highlighted during the events was a keynote speech by Zhao Jinping, former director-general of the development research center of the State Council, followed by a thematic dialogue with Zhao, Hubert Xu, chairman of the Guangdong Investment Promotion Association, as well as several senior executives of foreign-funded and local enterprises.