A nationwide culture and creative industry alliance was established on Dec 12 in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, aimed at promoting industrial development.

The China Culture and Creative Industry Alliance, was set up during the Tianhe Summit of the China Culture and Creative Industry Conference, will help build a nationwide platform for companies and organizations in the culture and creative industry to conduct cooperation and resource integration.

John Howkins, a leading writer and strategist on the creative economy, shared his views during the summit on how the creative industry will develop in the near future.

"China has made tremendous progress in the culture and creative industry over the past 40 years — especially in the areas of design, fashion and modern art," Howkins said.

Howkins hoped more Chinese cultural and creative companies to invest in the overseas market.

"Chinese companies should look beyond the domestic market in business expansion. They need to invest as quickly as possible in the global culture and creative industry," he said.

Over the last 15 years, Howkins has worked with a wide range of people and organizations in over 30 countries and regions to increase understanding of creativity and innovation in a business environment.

His first book The Creative Economy: How People Make Money from Ideas has become a seminal account of how creative people think and develop new ideas.

The opening of the Tianhe summit marked the beginning of the Guangzhou Cultural Industry Fair, which lasts until Dec 24.

The fair also includes a documentary film festival, a copyright expo of international cultural heritage museums, a forum focusing on advertisement, an international art expo and an international entertainment trade fair, according to the organizers.