South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, visited Guangdong on September 3 before participating the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing and hoped his visit would further promote local exchanges of people and enterprises.
(The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Source: Xinhua New)
Guangdong is becoming an important stage for China's diplomatic events at home.
(South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Guangdong on September 3.)
Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at least 30 foreign dignitaries have visited Guangdong. The heads of Singapore, Peru, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Vanuatu, and other countries have also designated Guangdong as their first stop.
They saw unique advantages of Guangdong as a gateway hub for opening up to the outside world, reviewed the history of relationship with this place, and explored new opportunities for cooperation.
Guangdong is the first stop of Wesley Simina, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, visiting China April and "Strong support", "sincere help" and "mutual benefit" are the words he used very often since his arrival.
Chen Zheng, fellow of Taihe Institue and lecturer at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University. (Photo provided by Chen Zheng)
Chen Zheng, fellow of Taihe Institue and lecturer at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told us that in recent years, Guangdong has become an important stage for diplomatic events hosted in China, which is closely related to Guangdong's significant position in China's national economy, innovative concepts, and developed governance system.
Chen Zheng believes that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, represented by Guangdong, has China's most advanced manufacturing clusters, a superior business environment, excellent ports and trade zones, China's most creative high-tech enterprises representing new quality productive forces, and a rich and diverse culture and history of opening up, all of which provide the best window for countries around the world to observe China.
In April, Janet Yellen, the United States secretary of the treasury, visited Guangdong. (Photo: Xinhua News)
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech during her visit April in Guangdong that she had visited a solar cell manufacturer in Norcross, Georgia a week earlier. Back then, she also gave a speech focusing on China's expansion of green energy production in recent years. Later, The U.S. media once again discussed China's leading power in the field of electric vehicle batteries.
On April 15 and 16, 2024, the President of the Republic of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi visited Shenzhen. (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
The scientific and technological strength of Guangdong's high-tech enterprises has also attracted the attention of foreign dignitaries. On April 15 and 16 this year, the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, visited Shenzhen. After appreciating Tencent's WeChat, Tencent Cloud, AI, game technology, and other products and solutions, Santokhi decided to invite Tencent to invest in Suriname on the spot.
Furthermore, many of the itineraries also include deep ties with Guangdong through these years.
On April 7, 2023, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, visited Guangzhou. During the visit, he specifically mentioned the history of Guangzhou's opening up to foreign trade. In 1698, the ship Amphitrite set sail from the port of La Rochelle in southwest France and arrived in Guangzhou on November 2 of that year. All the goods on board were duty-free, which became the prelude to Sino-French trade.
As Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai visited the Nanshan Energy Ecological Park in Shenzhen (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
"Sending a signal of cooperation" is the main intention of many international dignitaries visiting Guangdong, who have come to this vast southern land to seek new development opportunities.
For the Republic of Vanuatu, due to its small land area, how to dispose of garbage has become a challenge that must be faced. Its Prime Minister Charlot Salwai visited Guangdong from July 7 to 12 this year to visit the Nanshan Energy Ecological Park, known as the "incineration plant without walls".
Salwai pointed out that everything must be premised on protecting the environment when it comes to improving infrastructure, expanding market access, raising the level of education, improving health services, etc. "That's one of the lessons I've learned from China. China has vigorously promoted infrastructure development in harmony with the environment and ecosystems."
Chen Zheng told us that to understand the take-off of China's economy, Guangdong is the best entry point; to study China's development path and model, Guangdong is also the best place.
Chen said China is gradually showcasing its mature ideas and advanced experience to the world through the local urban agglomeration represented by Guangdong, in keeping with the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and will provide a larger platform and more opportunities to promote the formation of global consensus and promote the common development of the global economy and society.
Reporter | Xiao Yue, Liang Lingfei from Southern Metropolis Daily, N-Video
Editor | Xiang Xueni, Xiao Yue, He Jiahui from Southern Metropolis Daily, N-Video, Nina, James
