Guangzhou has launched its 2026 ASEAN trade promotion initiative in Singapore, convening nearly 600 government officials, business leaders, and trade representatives from China and Southeast Asia as the South China city seeks to deepen economic cooperation with one of its key overseas markets.
Held on June 16 and titled "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You", the event showcased more than 300 products from more than 20 Guangzhou companies and featured the signing of six cooperation agreements in sectors including automotive manufacturing, consumer goods, and biotechnology.
The trade promotion event, "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You", is held in Singapore on June 16, 2026. (Photo: "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You")
ASEAN has become Guangzhou's largest trading partner and the top destination for the city's outbound investment.
In 2025, trade between Guangzhou and ASEAN countries exceeded 200 billion yuan, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the city's total foreign trade. Guangzhou enterprises invested more than $1 billion in ASEAN economies, while more than 2,700 ASEAN-funded enterprises have been established in the city.
Officials and business representatives described Singapore as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia, citing its role as a regional hub for finance, logistics, and commerce.
April Oh, regional director (South China) at Enterprise Singapore, said the city-state's connectivity, business-friendly environment, and extensive network of free trade agreements give companies access to broader regional markets.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Kang Yiming, counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of China in Singapore, said Guangzhou's economy continues to show strong quality, resilience, and vitality.
He said the city's traditional industries, including textiles, apparel, cosmetics, and personal care products, are expanding steadily, while strategic emerging sectors, including new energy vehicles, biomedicine, and healthcare, are growing rapidly. He added that Guangzhou is further leveraging its role as a core engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Guangzhou Vice Mayor Hu Hao invited international businesses to explore opportunities in the city. Wei Min, director of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, highlighted Guangzhou's industrial strengths in sectors from advanced manufacturing and electric vehicles to fashion and consumer products.
According to Wei, Guangzhou is home to 35 of the 41 major industrial categories and has developed six industrial clusters and ten service sectors that generate annual output of more than 100 billion yuan. The city also hosts 508 specialized wholesale markets with annual transactions exceeding 1.5 trillion yuan, supporting nearly two million jobs.
One highlight of the event was the release of a Guangzhou premium products catalog for ASEAN, featuring nearly 100 products in categories including smart technology, consumer electronics, beauty and wellness, food products, and home goods.
GAC International signs a strategic cooperation agreement with APMG on June 16, 2026, at the trade promotion event, "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You". (Photo: "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You")
Several agreements underscored growing cooperation between Guangzhou and Southeast Asian partners. GAC International signed a strategic cooperation agreement with APMG to expand its presence in Southeast Asia.
Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings also reached an agreement with Singapore-based Lion TCR Biotech on research cooperation in TCR-T cell therapies, while other partnerships covered healthcare products, distribution networks, and trade facilitation.
An exhibition of Guangzhou-made products is held at the trade promotion event, "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You", on June 16, 2026. (Photo: "Made in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Made for You")
The event also featured an exhibition showing how Guangzhou companies are adapting their products to regional demand.
GAC showcased its AION V and HYPTEC HT models, while consumer brands displayed food products, household goods, and fashion items. Fast-fashion giant SHEIN promoted both its direct retail business and marketplace platform, highlighting digital supply chains and support for manufacturers.
The Singapore launch is part of Guangzhou's broader effort to expand its commercial footprint across Southeast Asia. Under its new ASEAN engagement framework, the city plans to organize more than 40 trade and investment events in the region in 2026.
Reporter | Liu Xiaodi
