The conference themed with “nationally renowned private enterprises promoting the building of magnificent and beautiful Guangxi and the realization of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” was held in Nanning on December 21, 2020, against the backdrop of the in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC). Co-sponsored by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the conference was presided over by Lan Tianli, deputy Party chief of Guangxi and acting chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of ACFIC, and Lu Xinshe, Party secretary of Guangxi and chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attended the conference and made speeches. Xu Lejiang, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, secretary of Party Leadership of ACFIC and executive vice chairman, and Sun Dawei, secretary of Party Leadership of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPPCC, attended the conference as well.

Gao Yunlong pointed out that Guangxi enjoyed location advantages with abundant natural resources and strong industrial foundation, which created good conditions for developing modern agriculture, strengthening modern industry and optimizing modern service industry. In the new stage of building a new development pattern and achieving high-quality development, Guangxi is of great potential. He hoped that private enterprises would help Guangxi comprehensively open up to the outside world, make good use of the resources of both domestic and foreign markets, continue to optimize supply capacity, improve supply quality, and shape new advantages of enterprise development. Private enterprises are also encouraged to participate in the construction of Guangxi’s innovation system, adhere to the simultaneous development of both independent and cooperative innovation, and further take part in the technological transformation and innovation projects of enterprises in Guangxi, so as to achieve higher-quality, more efficient, more sustainable and more competitive development. It is also hoped that private enterprises will promote the coordinated and leapfrog development of Guangxi, support the construction of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, carry out cross-border economic and trade cooperation and international exchanges, and achieve a new leap in the development of region and enterprises.

Gao stressed that the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 could not be realized without the new force of private enterprises. The Party Committee and the Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are earnestly implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the CEWC, thoroughly carrying out the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s important speech at the symposium with entrepreneurs, making efforts to meet the requirements of “pro-business, business-oriented, business-friendly and business-protective”, constantly optimizing the business environment, and continuously stimulating the vitality of the private economy. Industrial and commercial federations and chambers of commerce at all levels should play the role of a bridge-builder, help innovate means of service, and lead people in the private sector to make new and greater contributions to the economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Lu Xinshe said that at the critical moment when the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects was coming to a successful conclusion and a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country in an all-round way was about to start, the conference on “nationally renowned private enterprises promoting the building of magnificent and beautiful Guangxi and the realization of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” was not only a practical action to implement the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s important instructions on the private sector, but also a pragmatic measure to leverage the advantages of the private economy to build a new development pattern, fully reflecting the strong sense of responsibility and mission of all entrepreneurs. At present, Guangxi is going deeper into implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the CEWC and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s important instructions on Guangxi’s work, and scientifically planning the development of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). It is hoped that private enterprises will enhance their market competitiveness in promoting Guangxi’s industry revitalization, seize new opportunities for economic development in boosting Guangxi’s innovative development, share the dividends of open development in helping with the opening up of Guangxi, and expand the areas of bilateral cooperation in forwarding Guangxi’s green development. Guangxi will strengthen the protection of all-round factors, create a first-class business environment and provide a good environment and high-quality services for private enterprises in the market competition on an equal footing in areas such as mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises, financial services and major infrastructure construction, so that everyone can invest, live, seek for better development in Guangxi with sense of security and comfort, and achieve win-win outcomes through cooperation with benefits of development shared by all.

Qin Rupei, member of the Standing Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee and executive vice-chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, made an investment promotion of Guangxi at the conference. Li Shufu, vice chairman of ACFIC and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., announced the 2020 Guangxi Initiative for Private Enterprises of the 12th Executive Committee of ACFIC. Speeches were made successively by representatives of renowned private entrepreneurs such as Nan Cunhui, vice chairman of ACFIC and chairman of Chint Group, Zhang Yin, vice president of China Paper and Pulp Industry Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Nine Dragons Paper, and Zhou Nanfang, chairman of Hechi Nanfang Non-ferrous Metal Smelt Co., Ltd. They said that they would seize new opportunities of Guangxi’s development, share the development dividends with Guangxi and create a better future together.

On December 21, 60 investment cooperation projects with a total investment of 208.3 billion yuan were signed and 28 projects with a total investment of 213.9 billion yuan were launched at the 2020 “Introducing Private Enterprises into Guangxi” Result Release & Project Signing and Commencement Ceremony. On the same day, special promotional activities such as Guangxi High-quality Industry & Digital Economy Promotion Conference, China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the New Western Land-sear Corridor Promotion Conference, and Guangxi Cultural Tourism and Health Industry Promotion Conference were introduced as well.

The conference was held both online and offline, with a main venue in Nanning and sub-venues in 14 cities and 71 counties in Hong Kong and Guangxi. Leaders from ACFIC and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, executive members of ACFIC, and representatives of advanced private enterprises in the fight against COVID-19 attended relevant activities of the conference.