Guangzhou released the Blue Book of Guangzhou: Report on City Internationalization of Guangzhou (2026) at a launch conference on September 14. The launch was held alongside a symposium on global urban development and trends under the APEC framework.

The report and the symposium discussions are expected to provide intellectual support for Guangzhou's high-level opening-up, high-quality development and deeper cooperation within the APEC framework.

Yao Yang, director of the Institute of City Internationalization at the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences and executive editor-in-chief of the report, presented its latest research findings.

Yao said Guangzhou will align with national planning to identify its strategic positioning, use high-level internationalization to drive high-quality urban development and strengthen four strategic priorities.

First, Guangzhou will deepen the integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services and pursue digital and green transformation to make its modern industrial system more competitive internationally.

Second, it will give equal weight to institutional opening-up and risk prevention to build a new pattern of high-level, secure opening-up.

Third, it will improve the quality and efficiency of its international hub functions and resource allocation to consolidate its role as a strategic pivot in dual circulation.

Fourth, it will foster an international-friendly environment and build cultural symbols that shape a city brand image reflecting Chinese modernization.

Liu Wei, director of the Institute of International Studies at the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, said Guangzhou has made important contributions through its work on major platforms for APEC people-to-people exchanges, city visits, overseas Chinese affairs, sister-city networks and the Lingnan culture and its digital promotion.

Looking ahead, he said Guangzhou should extend the long-term effects of the APEC "China Year" in areas such as institutional alignment, overseas Chinese networks, integrated culture and tourism, digital promotion, and brand synergy.

Liang Yutian, deputy director of the Institute of International and Regional Studies at Sun Yat-sen University, said Guangzhou has a geographical advantage in both connecting Southeast Asia and engaging globally.

Leveraging the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the city will strengthen its role as a southern hub in the global city network and advance its shift from a transport and trade hub to a comprehensive hub by optimizing industrial links, extending trade and commercial platforms, coordinating industrial chains and upgrading planning and professional services.