Known as China’s South Gate, Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and its political, economic, scientific and technological, educational and cultural centers. Flowers bloom all year round in Guangzhou and that’s why it is also known as the City of Flowers. As the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area points out, Guangzhou, as one of the core engines for regional development, will “fully leverage its leading function as a national core city and an integrated gateway city, comprehensively strengthen its functions as an international commerce and industry centre and integrated transport hub, enhance its function as technological, educational and cultural centres, and develop into a global metropolis.”

With a total area of 7,434 square kilometers and a resident population of 14.9044 million (of which 55,000 are foreigners), Guangzhou recorded a regional GDP of 2,285.935 billion Yuan in 2018. Being home to consulates-generals of 65 countries, the city has forged sister city ties with 38 cities from 35 countries on six continents. According to statistics, the population of foreigners in Guangzhou ranks third in China. Thanks to the city’s diversified culinary culture, convenient living conditions and good medical and educational environment, more and more foreigners choose to settle down and start business in Guangzhou.

In recent years, Guangzhou successfully hosted the 16th Asian Games and the first Asian Paralympic Games, the Fortune Global Forum, the World Route Development Forum, the IAPH World Ports Conference and many other international conferences. The Convention on Exchange of Overseas Talent and the Convention of Overseas Chinese Scholars in Science and Technology (OCS) are held in the fourth quarter of each year as the top brands for overseas talent exchange in the country.