On April 20, 2011, a signing ceremony was held in Kunming city to mark the launch of the activity promoting Guangdong commodities in southwest China and economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Yunnan provinces. Witnessed by leading officials of the two provinces, Guangdong and Yunnan signed economic and trade cooperation agreements valued at 66.15 billion yuan. The activity indicates the two provinces have reached a new height in cooperation.

Yunnan is a gateway of opening up in Southwest China and Guangdong as an economic hub in southeast coastal lines, thus the two provinces enjoy sound complementary advantages and cooperation prospects. In recent years, the two provinces have intensified cooperation and exchanges under the stimulation of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation mechanisms in the Pan-Pearl River Delta area.

Guangdong province organized a big economic and trade delegation of 990 persons from 313 companies to attend economic and trade activities along with the Party and government delegation. On April 19, the Guangdong economic and trade delegation reported to have signed 160 cooperation agreements with Yunnan partners, worth 114 billion yuan. Over one half of the projects were for commodity sales and purchases. Private companies accounted for a large proportion of the deals. Manufacturing projects also received high attention.