To deepen the communication, as well as explore new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, the 28^th Guangdong-New South Wales (NSW) Joint Economic Meeting kicked off in Guangzhou and Sydney simultaneously on December 1.

Adopted by video conference, more than 60 representatives from both sides presented the meeting.

At the meeting, both the province of Guangdong and NSW not only reviewed the fruits of cooperation in recent years, but also discussed the potential cooperation which was brought by the “Dual Areas” (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Shenzhen as the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics), Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and the Greater Sydney Region Plan-A Metropolis of Three Cities.

Both of the two sides indicated that a close communication in various fields should be maintained.

Guangdong and NSW established sister relationship in 1979, which is the first sister state (province) pair between China and Australia. Over the past 42 years, a great number of exchanges have been launched in two regions under the framework of the sister relationship.

In order to promote more cooperation between the two regions in the field of trade and investment, education and technology, healthcare, culture and tourism, the two sides had established the joint economic meeting in 1983.

Statistics show that import-export volume between Guangdong and NSW went up 2.4 percent to exceed 120 billion RMB in 2020. In the first nine months this year, trade volume between the two regions is over 100 billion RMB, a 20% increase year on year.

Furthermore, companies from the two sides also signed cooperation agreements in the field of new energy vehicles and biological medicine.

At the meeting, representatives from Guangzhou and Sydney delivered speeches to mark the 35 year anniversary of the sister city relationship between the two cities.

Sub-forums in trade and investment, biological medicine and green development will be held.

Author: Steven Yuen

Editors: Wing Zhang, Jerry Grey