Guangdong capital partners with US in trade, business, Li Fusheng reports.

United States-headquartered technology conglomerate Cisco Systems is building its first China-based smart city in Guangzhou, capital city of South China's Guangdong province.

Having kicked off the 20 billion yuan ($2.92 billion) project in April, Cisco is working with its partners to build an internet of things system in the city's Panyu district, aiming to build a cluster of smart industries worth hundreds of billions of yuan.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said the project is an effort with local authorities to unleash the unlimited potential of digitalization.

The company, which came to China some 20 years ago, will also introduce cutting-edge technologies - including autonomous driving - into the smart city to offer residents smart, environmentally friendly and safe infrastructure.

The project is also expected to drive local innovation and services to provide more job opportunities and promote economic growth.

Guangzhou is famed for its innovation. The city is home to more than 120,000 technology startups specializing in the internet, biomedicine, new materials, industrial robots, drones and 3-D printing sectors.

Guangzhou-based Ehang unveiled the world's first autonomous aerial vehicle, the 184, last year.

It can fly for up to 30 minutes at a maximum cruising speed of 160 kilometers per hour, and has an average cruise speed of 100 km/h. Once the destination is entered, the automatic flight control system chooses the fastest and safest route.

The company has announced a partnership with Dubai's government to use its Ehang 184 passenger-carrying drone in the city's smart transportation system.

Dubai's Roads and Transportation Authority said the Chinese passenger drone will begin "regular operations" around the futuristic city in July, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.

Guangzhou is also the birthplace of WeChat, a messenger app run by technology giant Tencent. Released in 2011, the app has some 800 million active users in China and overseas.

The city is also building itself into a hub of international air transport and sea transport.

The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has 149 international air routes, which will grow to 164 by the end of 2017.

Last year, it had a passenger throughput of 59.78 million people and a cargo throughput of 1.64 million metric tons, ranking No 16 and No 19 worldwide respectively.

By 2025, the airport is expected to handle 100 million passengers annually, becoming one of the world's 10 largest airports.

In terms of sea transport, the Guangzhou Port has 79 international routes. It handled 544 million tons of cargo and 18.86 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) last year, ranking No 6 and No 7 worldwide, respectively.

The innovative atmosphere and convenient transport are attracting investors and facilitating international trade.

By March this year, 999 companies in Guangzhou had received investment from the US, with their combined investment totaling $2.24 billion.

In 2016, 33 projects in Guangzhou received US investment, with the combined amount reaching $36.22 million, and Guangzhou companies invested in 48 projects in the US, with their combined investment totaling $230 million.

The US is the largest cargo trade partner of Guangzhou. In 2016, bilateral cargo trade totaled 112.6 billion yuan, accounting for 13.1 percent of the city's total international trade.

The momentum surged even higher in the first quarter of the year, during which Guangzhou exports to the US reached 19.45 billion yuan, a 25 percent increase year-on-year, while US exports to Guangzhou totaled 8.73 billion yuan, up 16.1 percent year-on-year.

To further promote business exchanges, Guangzhou authorities are sending a large delegation to Chicago in June, with representatives from 28 Guangzhou-based companies including GAC Motor, China Southern Airlines, China Southern Power Grid and Midea.

The event will serve as a platform for Sino-US businesses to exchange their ideas ahead of the Fortune Forum that is to be held in Guangzhou from Dec 6 to 8.

With the theme of "Openness and Innovation: Shaping the Global Economy", the forum will see entrepreneurs and economists from around the world discuss how to inject new vitality into global economic growth, bringing broader development opportunities for investors powered by innovation and openness.

Contact the writer at lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn