Lin Weiqiang, Head of the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, recently led the Zhongshan Economic and Trade Delegation to Japan to carry out a series of economic and trade discussions. They aligned with key emerging industries, including advanced manufacturing, new materials and biomedicine, along with technological innovation and higher education resources, in a bid to help Zhongshan participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The delegation organized more than a dozen of Zhongshan enterprises to have discussions in Japan. They visited the University of Tokyo and its Artificial Intelligence Research Center, promoting cooperation between Zhongshan and the University of Tokyo in fields like technology research, development and transfer, and higher education.

The delegation attended a seminar salon on development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Moreover, they presented on a platform focusing on innovative technology and smart health. An exchange meeting was organized to discuss with Japanese enterprises engaged in strategic emerging industries and involved in high-end equipment manufacturing, next-generation information technology and health and pharmacy sectors. The meeting boosted Zhongshan's popularity in Japan. Besides, it furthered cooperative intentions on mutual investments and other fields reached between Zhongshan and Japan's economic associations.

Furthermore, the delegation also met several renowned Japanese companies to discuss with them. At the meetings, Zhongsha showed its strength in investment environment to attract more Japanese enterprises to seek development in Zhongshan and accelerate negotiations on projects to get launched in Zhongshan as early as possible.

It is learned that Japan was the first stop for the overseas promotional meetings of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. An economic and trade delegation consisting of manufacturing, auto manufacturing, information technology and other industries will have economic and trade discussions in Mexico in early June. This will present the investment environment of the city, in the hope of boosting Zhongshan's popularity in Mexico.

Statistics indicate that the actual utilization of foreign capital in Zhongshan grew steadily in the first quarter of this year. As the contracts reveal, foreign capital utilization reached 144 million dollars, with an increase of 51.0%; the actual use of foreign capital was 74 million dollars, with a growth of 5.0%.