A group discuss of oversea Chinese representatives was held during the 5th session of the 12th Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress. (photo resource: Southcn.com)
"I really suggest that all products made in Guangdong, especially for some leading electronic products such as Huawei, should be labeled not only ‘made in China’, but also ‘from Guangdong Province’," said seriously Lu Weiliang, an oversea Chinese from South Africa when he participated in a group discussion organized during the 5th session of the 12th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 20th.
Inspired by “Designed by Apple in California” label printed at the back of each iPhone, Lu insisted that Guangdong products should emphasize the name of original province like Apple.
Together with other 13 oversea Chinese representatives from all over the world with their origination from Guangdong, Lu was invited to join the session and offer suggestions for Guangdong’s development on economy, culture and society. It is the fourth consecutive year for Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress to invited oversea Chinese representatives to express their ideas during the sessions.
Oversea Chinese become main source of Guangdong's global talents
Yuan Baocheng, vice governor of Guangdong, attended the discussion and introduced at the meeting that oversea Chinese have become one main source of Guangdong’s global talents recruit. 117 innovative and entrepreneur teams have been introduced in Guangdong via “Pearl River Talents” Recruit Project since 2009, among which 90% are oversea Chinese. At the same time 80% of the leading talents are oversea Chinese.
Statistics show that since the carrying on of reform and opening up, Guangdong has received donations worth over 52.3 billion Yuan from compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao SARs and oversea Chinese, which has made great contributions to Guangdong’s development.
Luo Juan, vice chairman of the standing committee of Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress, invited oversea Chinese to feel free to provide advises on Guangdong’s development. Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress would take all ideas seriously and send them to the provincial government to handle.
Close connections between Guangdong and countries alongside "Belt and Road" Initiative
Since “Belt and Road” Initiative has been mentioned frequently in Ma Xingrui’s Government Work Report this year, it has become a heat word for representatives. Almost every representatives thought highly about Guangdong’s efforts in emerging itself into “Belt and Road” Initiative, and hoped to make further connections with those countries and brand Guangdong in countries alongside “Belt and Road” Initiative.
Wu Wenyi, a representative from Niger of West Africa, suggested that since China has been expanding its influence in countries in West Africa, Guangdong should seize the opportunity and expand investments in agriculture, manufacturing, business, real estate, tourism, infrastructure construction and so on. She strongly recommended that cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou could establish sister city relationships with capitals of western African countries.
Xu Boyao, an oversea Chinese from Brazil, was originated from Jiangmen. Xu indicated that he particularly focused on development of the west bank of Pearl River. He advised that Hengqin FTZ should make full use of its “platform for business cooperation with Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries” and create more connections with Brazil in policies, infrastructure construction, trade cooperation and so on. “Direct flights between Guangdong and Brazil should be launched.”
Oversea Chinese hope to contribute to brand Guangdong globally
One topic that attracted oversea Chinese representatives most is how to brand Guangdong globally. All of them expressed their willingness to make contribution to the process, and give some practical advises to Guangdong.
For instance, Zhang Qinxian from UAE insisted that Guangdong could bring excellent “made in Guangdong” products to Dubai and establish a promotion center for Guangdong products. This can help “made in Guangdong” products, and even the companies producing these products go global.
Zhou Lu from Mexico stated her idea that Guangdong can launch an event of Guangdong Culture Week in Mexico, performing to Mexican dance, paintings, opera, cuisine and other kinds of typical Guangdong arts. What’s more, people in Guangdong and Mexico both have deep feelings about football, and Guangdong can enhance cooperation with Mexico in this aspect.
(by Nan)
