Further financial cooperation was discussed between the government and provincial finance firm, Guangdong Utrust, on Nov 22. Zhanjiang Municipal Party Secretary Wei Hongguang met a delegation from Guangdong Utrust, led by its chairman of the board Yang Rungui.

Utrust, established in 1984, is a government-authorized financial service provider specializing in assets management and financing. As of the end of 2015, the enterprise manages a total 310.4 billion yuan ($45 billion) in assets and has built 25 wholly-owned subsidiaries and holding enterprises.

Zhanjiang Municipal Party Secretary Wei Hongguang discusses Zhanjiang's recent developments with Yang Rungui, chairman of the board of Guangdong Utrust on Nov 22. [Photo by Lang Shuchen]

Delegates were welcomed by Wei, who expressed his gratitude to Utrust for its long-term financial support to Zhanjiang's development.

Wei spoke of the government's plan to build Zhanjiang into a transportation hub, technology and education center in western Guangdong, putting the city in a central position in the Beibu Gulf Rim in China's southwestern coastal region.

Wei expressed his hope that Utrust can lend a helping hand to support the construction of the city's key infrastructure as well as projects aimed at improving social welfare. Wei said he wished for professional financial services to be offered to Zhanjiang's small and medium-sized enterprises and PPP (public-private-partnership) project, a cooperative arrangement between one or more public sector bodies.

Yang said that Utrust has always followed and helped with government plans, and will continue to give full support to Zhanjiang's economic development through deep and wide cooperation.