Guangzhou rolls out welcome mat

Participants at a special "Guangzhou Night" during this week's World Economic Forum were told more business opportunities will be created in the city, following the implementation of a series of policies planned as part of China's flagship Belt and Road Initiative.

The capital of Guangdong province, a major starting point on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is currently in the midst of developing a pilot free trade zone, which will further open up its economy and help draw more international cooperation, top Party official Ren Xuefeng told an audience of more than 500 international business leaders and government officials on Thursday.

"We welcome international businesses to Guangzhou as we develop a new normal growth model - a model of slower growth, but of better quality - for the local economy," Ren said.