The province's new industrial structure upgrade policy is spread fast and deep into its 21 cities. The processing factories, once thrive in the region, are driven by the policy to either enhance their R&D and other strength or relocate to less developed region. Meanwhile, the Pearl River Delta cities, sometimes dubbed as the world factory, are now making effort to expand its service sector, advanced engineering, high tech industries and other high value added industries. These changes make the province once again the hot choice for domestic and foreign investors.

To know more about how big the changes are and what new chances they brings, a total of 43 consul generals and consulate staff last week visited the east bank of Pearl River Delta, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou.

Guangzhou and Shenzhen are dual cores of Guangdong's social and economic development, Dongguan is known as the processing industry cluster with a famous local saying that "A traffic jam in Dongguan-Shenzhen expressway is enough to cause worldwide fluctuation in computer prices." And Huizhou is now the most eye-catching rising cities in east Guangdong with a series of large projects, such as CNOOC-Shell petrochemical project, Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, and TCL's LCD production lines.

The consuls toured FedEx's Asian Pacific Logistic Center, domestic household brand TCL's workshop, Shenzhen-Hong Kong West Corridor, Nansha Container Ports, Guangzhou Service Center for Government Affairs… This itinerary deepened their understanding of Guangdong's new policy, which they think will help the province continue its rapid development momentum despite of the world's economic slowdown. "Guangdong is a bear gaining enough fat for the winter." Mr. Ang Chay Chuan said during the tour. And they also see new cooperation opportunities between their countries and Guangdong through the tour. "The province would start to develop bio technology, healthcare, financial service, high tech, advanced engineering and creative industry, all of which were UK particularly good at." Mr. Brian Davidson, Consul General of UK, hoped Guangdong's move would bring new cooperation opportunities. "I will compete with my colleagues (in other cities) to bring Austrian companies here." Mr. Baumgartner, Austrian Consul said when visiting the Dongguan Museum.

The consuls also had a talk with the students in Shenzhen University Town and played pingpong in Dongguan residents' communities… Many of the consuls said they had never had so close a touch with local people's daily life and amazed by either the modern library service or old Qilin dance and Kongfu performances. Mr. Peytregnet hoped he could bring the idea of 24-hour mini self-service library back to France, saying "Guangdong innovations always bring wow factors!"

Editor: Yan