The fourth Understanding China Conference opened Saturday in Guangzhou, 
bringing in-depth discussions around the theme of "New Globalization and 
China's New Round of Reform and Opening-Up."

About 600 politicians, strategists, scholars, entrepreneurs from 17 countries 
and regions, as well as representatives of international organizations, 
participated in the two-day event, according to the organizing committee.

Participants are expected to attend in-depth discussions, seminars and forums 
with topics including the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater 
Bay Area, global governance and China's economic development.

The international trading system that has made possible the extension and 
expansion of the opportunities of globalization is nowadays "under severe 
stress," said Ernesto Zedillo, former president of Mexico, at the opening 
ceremony.

He called for joint efforts to protect global multilateralism, saying that "we 
hope all countries can take the initiative to protect and reinforce the 
multilateral trading system."

His view was echoed by Li Yong, director-general of the UN Industrial 
Development Organization, who cautioned against protectionist sentiments, 
saying that economies that close their borders risk cutting themselves off from 
job opportunities and innovation investment.

Experts spoke highly of China's role in globalization.

"Globalization and China's own policies have been highly complementary and 
mutually beneficial. We need to recognize this to fully understand China's 
commitment to globalization and the new round of the reform and opening up 
today," Li said.

China has contributed a lot to globalization, said Martin Jacques, a senior 
fellow of the Department of Politics and International Studies at the 
University of Cambridge, adding that one of China's basic views on 
globalization is inclusiveness, which allows China to better integrate into the 
world economy.

"We have to launch the new globalization. It will be very difficult, but we can 
succeed," said Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research 
Institute of National University of Singapore.

Launched in 2013, the Understanding China Conference has served as a platform 
for the world to understand China's development strategies.

Guangzhou, capital of south China's economic powerhouse Guangdong Province, has 
been at the frontier of China's reform and opening-up. Today, as a national 
center city and a comprehensive gateway, Guangzhou has set up a solid 
foundation in terms of foreign trade, business environment, industrial 
transformation, international exchanges and social governance. With China 
increasingly opening up, Guangzhou has formed an all-dimensional, wide-ranging 
and multilevel pattern of opening up itself.

The GDP of Guangzhou increased by 6.9 percent in the first nine months of this 
year to more than 1.78 trillion yuan (USD 252 billion), according to the city's 
government.

Source: The Organizing Committee of Understanding China Guangzhou Conference