The heads of 21 world-leading international corporations gathered in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province yesterday, as part of a think tank organized by the provincial governor to make suggestions for the development of Guangdong.

The "overseas brains," are to be the economic development consultants for the provincial governor for the next two years, with the project winding up at the end of 2005.

The heavyweights are all from global big name companies or research institutes, including Switzerland-based ABB, American International Group (AIG), BHP Billiton, BP, Ericsson and Nokia.

A whopping 16 of them are from among the world's top 500 enterprises, and four are professors from world-famed universities and research institutes.

A two-day International Consultative Conference on Future Economic Development, which ends today, was to focus on international competitiveness and Guangdong's development, in concert with the think tank members.

This was the second session of the conference, the first one having been held in 1999, and three plenary meetings have been held annually. "Guangdong will have its best time in the first 20 years of this century, as a result of the excellent work done in the last 20 years of the previous century," said Zhang Dejiang, Party Secretary of Guangdong Province.

Learning from the experience of world leading companies and listening to their suggestions is meaningful in raising the competitiveness of enterprises in the province, he added.

Maurice Greenberg, CEO of AIG, said the idea of a "Greater Pearl River Delta," in which neighbouring Hong Kong and Macao are included, will definitely push the further development of the region.

He also said that, the province's successful fight against SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) this spring left a deep impression on him.

A "closed door" conference, part of the two-day conference, was held yesterday, during which time the 21 consultants discussed their opinions with top provincial officials from various economic sectors.

Three seminars will be held today - the final day of the conference - on the use of foreign capital, raising manufacturing levels, and upgrading Guangdong's financial status, chaired by the deputy governors in charge of these aspects of the province's economy.

Two enterprise forums will go on simultaneously today at which entrepreneurs from home and abroad will hold face-to-face discussions of the fields they share common interests in.

University students will also have an opportunity to enjoy the charm and wisdom of the world tycoons and scholars.

(China Daily November 4, 2003)