Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences (GZASS) published a Blue Book titled Annual Report on City Internationalization of Guangzhou (2025)on August 12. This book aims to provide insight into Guangzhou’s development in 2024.

According to the Blue Book, more than 8,400 foreign-invested enterprises were established in Guangzhou in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 27.4%. Furthermore, foreign direct investment reached 970 billion yuan (RMB) by the end of 2024.

Wu Qing, Deputy Head of the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences and editor-in-chief of the Blue Book, stated that the Blue Book has been published for four consecutive years since 2021.

“This book is the only Blue Book that focuses on city internationalization, providing momentum for Guangzhou's high-quality development among over 400 national blue books,” said Wu.

Jun Youn Kim, Senior Researcher at the Software Policy & Research Institute under South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, delivered an online speech emphasizing that Guangzhou plays an important role in global development as it is the core region of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He expressed hope for future collaboration with the GZASS on urban development, contributing to the prosperity of East Asia and beyond.

Yao Yang, Director of the Institute of Urban Internationalization of the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences and executive editor of the Blue Book, released and interpreted the latest findings, highlighting Guangzhou’s outstanding performance in the global urban system. He summarized ten major achievements in Guangzhou’s city internationalization in 2024 and proposed future development strategies, underscoring Guangzhou’s leading role as the core engine of the Greater Bay Area and a global cooperation hub.

Prof. Dr. Ben Derudder, Director of the Leuven Urban Studies Institute (LUSI) and Associate Director of the GaWC research network, delivered a speech titled “Guangzhou’s Connectivity in the Global Urban Network (2000–2024),” noting that Guangzhou has firmly established itself among Alpha-level world cities, ranking 22nd globally. This highlights Guangzhou’s rapidly growing urban strength and continuously improving global connectivity.

The Annual Report on City Internationalization of Guangzhou aims to analyze the latest development trends in Guangzhou, study its future development paths, and provide a platform for academic exchanges on the internationalization of Chinese cities based on the case study of Guangzhou.