A round table on strengthening international cooperation, particularly in science and technology, between South China's Guangdong Province and its foreign friendship cities and organizations was recently held in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.
The event, organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on September 12, brought together representatives from Australia, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, along with local government officials and business leaders.
Ahead of the round table, the foreign delegation conducted a five-day visit to Guangzhou and Shenzhen from September 8 to 12. They toured enterprises and institutions in sectors including automobile manufacturing, new energy, bio-medicine, and robotics, gaining insights into the latest innovations and industrial practices across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Sushil Prajapati, president of the Arniko Society of Nepal, highlighted the drone delivery system of Chinese on-demand delivery company Meituan as a potential model for transporting essential supplies to remote regions of Nepal.
He also expressed interest in learning from Guangdong's experience in urban management and waste treatment to enhance environmental protection in his country.
Since the establishment of sister-province/state ties between Guangdong and Australia's Queensland in 2008, the two regions have engaged in extensive exchanges in trade, education, technology, and culture.
Zhang Jing, principal business development manager at Trade and Investment Queensland Guangzhou, noted the significant potential for cooperation in sectors such as bio-medicine and new energy.
She added that she was particularly interested in Guangdong's advanced building materials, which align with Queensland's current preparations for the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Yoshiaki Takahashi, assistant manager of the International Affairs Division of the Hyogo Prefectural Government in Japan, noted that Guangdong and Hyogo have maintained close ties since 1983.
He expressed a strong interest in expanding educational exchanges in engineering and advancing cooperation in areas such as digital twin cities, autonomous driving, medical science, and sustainable architecture.
In addition, Takahashi welcomed a reciprocal visit from Guangdong and pledged further support for next-generation technology enterprises.
Other foreign representatives also praised Guangdong's technological innovation and expressed hopes for deeper cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Attendees from the Guangdong Science and Technology Department, the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, and Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd. also participated in the round table. They highlighted the province's international partnerships in science and technology and offered tailored cooperation proposals to delegates from the participating countries.
Qiu Huilin, vice president of the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, called for maximizing the role of friendship cities and organizations as bridges for cooperation.
"We should deepen international cooperation in schools, hospitals, airports, and ports, while expanding exchanges in culture, arts, healthcare, and youth engagement," she said. "This will encourage stronger public participation and support on both sides, helping international cooperation better serve the people."
Reporter | Liu Xiaodi, Lin Ying (intern)
Photographer | Liang Zijian
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
