On November 18, 2018, Chaiman Zheng Bijian, was invited to the Symposium on “One Belt and One Road” and the Construction of Guangzhou as an International Metropolis hosted by Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, and organized by Guangzhou Urban Strategic Research Institute. At the Symposium, he delivered a keynote speech titled "Striding into the New Era to Building an International Metropolis—Guangzhou’s Historical Mission and Responsibility”.

Chairman Zheng Bijian said that the 40 years of reform and opening up has driven Guangzhou onto the path of developing toward an international metropolis, and the current "One Belt and One Road" and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area construction has shifted Guangzhou into un unprecedented fast lane in its metropolis construction. As the largest coastal city in southern China, Guangzhou is a hub, not only connected to the "one road", but also to the "one belt", so Guangzhou enjoys a rare opportunity and a geographical advantage, and will potentially become an international metropolis with Chinese characteristics in the new era. In doing so, Guangzhou shall be keen on developing both urban and rural areas, and integrating the two is the key element of a metropolis. Also, Guangzhou shall follow the down-to-earth spirit, be practical throughout its reform, development and innovation journey, and work concretely, deeply and meticulously. The city shall further emancipate the productive forces to reinforce its market power and innovation, and to build Guangzhou into a socialist-style metropolis in the south of China.