Fifteen contracts worth $2.29 billion were signed at the 2017 China (Guangdong)-US Investment Cooperation Conference held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on April 20.

Jointly organized by the People's Government of Guangdong province and the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the conference attracted 50 Fortune 500 companies, as well as 150 US and 150 Guangzhou-based enterprises.

The 2017 China (Guangdong)-US Investment Cooperation Conference is held on April 20 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. [Photo/southcn.com]

The conference was held to solidify an important consensus reached on promoting bilateral trade and investment by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during their meeting earlier this month.

"China-US bilateral trade began 233 years ago, when the merchant vessel the Empress of China set off from New York Harbor loaded with American goods and arrived in Guangzhou," Bai Zhili, consul-general of the United States Consulate General in Guangzhou, said in his opening speech.

Guangzhou, the third largest city in China, has grown to be both a renowned symbol of open economy and a modern manifestation of China's participation in global commerce.

"Chinese companies invested more than $45.60 billion in the US in 2016, and are believed to make new records in the future," Bai added.

"A report recently released in March shows Guangdong is considered the best place for investment among American enterprises," said Harley Seyedin, a representative of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. "Over 400 American enterprises gathering in Guangzhou today also proves the fact that they see opportunities popping up here."

Fifteen contracts worth $2.29 billion are signed at the 2017 China (Guangdong)-US Investment Cooperation Conference held in Guangzhou. [Photo/cyol.com]