The gate arch of the "Guangdong Goods Go Global: Zhongshan Products in Malaysia" event in Kuala Lumpur on April 25, 2026.
The melodious sounds of Cantonese folk music filled the air, as rows of typical Lingnan arcade buildings appeared on the large screen in the square. A large audience gathered at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, soon.
On the morning of April 25, the China (Zhongshan)–Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) Investment Promotion & Exchange Conference, along with the "Guangdong Goods Go Global: Zhongshan Products in Malaysia" event, kicked off at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
This marks the first time the "Guangdong Goods Go Global" initiative has held an on-site brick-and-mortar exhibition and sales activity abroad since its launch. The event promoted Zhongshan's city image, industrial strengths, business environment, overseas Chinese culture, specialty products, and investment opportunities.
Leveraging overseas Chinese communities as a bridge, the event aims to deepen Sino–Malaysian economic and trade cooperation, helping premium Zhongshan products gain a foothold in ASEAN and expand worldwide.
Officials from China and Malaysia have high expectations for the event
In his address, Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, stated that the official launch of the event marks a new starting point for economic and trade cooperation and opens a new chapter in the continuation of hometown ties and cultural integration.
Chiew noted that this event is not only a showcase of premium products but also an important bridge for city-level economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges.
The entry of Zhongshan's premium products, such as home appliances and intelligent equipment, into the Malaysian market will bring local consumers high-quality "Made in Zhongshan" products and a unique cultural experience. It will also establish a platform for trade matching, investment cooperation, and brand promotion for companies from both countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing stated that Guangdong, as a pioneer of China's reform and opening up and the province with the largest foreign trade, has long been at the forefront of China–Malaysia cooperation. Zhongshan, a major manufacturing hub in Guangdong, boasts renowned industrial clusters in lighting fixtures, home appliances, hardware, clothing, and mahogany furniture.
He expressed hope that entrepreneurs from both sides would seize the opportunity presented by this event to tap into the upgraded China–ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and the advantages of the RCEP policy, and introduce more high-quality Zhongshan products into Malaysia.
Ouyang also welcomed more high-quality Malaysian goods to reach the vast Chinese market via Zhongshan.
Guo Wenhai, Secretary of the Zhongshan Municipal Party Committee, stated that the core goal is to "enable more high-quality Zhongshan products to enter Malaysia and serve local residents." Zhongshan has invited economic and trade representatives from ASEAN countries to attend the event.
"We aim to take Malaysia as a strategic pivot to steadily consolidate and deepen trade, procurement and economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN member states and other Belt and Road partner countries," Guo added.
The event acts as a signing platform for Sino–Malaysian industrial cooperation
At the event, Zhongshan selected more than 70 high-quality enterprises from across the city to participate, showcasing over 300 distinctive products and demonstrating the city's development foundation of the manufacturing industry and its core strength in intelligent manufacturing.
The products cover high-quality items from advanced manufacturing fields such as drones and physiotherapy equipment, as well as premium items from traditional advantageous industries such as smart home appliances, lighting fixtures, and consumer electronics.
The event is not merely about product exhibition and sales. It also serves as a signing platform for Sino–Malaysian industrial cooperation.
"Participating in this event in Malaysia not only provides an opportunity to visit local customers but also to meet local community leaders and promote trade, which will definitely help close deals," said Li Haofan, General Manager of the Marketing Department of Guangdong Welly Electrical Appliances.
Li added that the Southeast Asian market currently accounts for about 5% of Welly's overall business, and the company hopes to use this opportunity to increase its market share in Southeast Asia to 10%.
Zhongshan leverages Malaysia as a hub to open to Southeast Asia
These project contracts, signed at the event, signal that Zhongshan is leveraging Malaysia as a hub to open the door to the Southeast Asian market.
Zhongshan enjoys excellent transport links to the world. Within a one-hour radius, it is a half-hour drive to Shenzhen and a 50-minute drive to Hong Kong and Macao. Five international airports and five major international ports offer multi-modal transport by sea, land, air, and rail.
This efficient logistics network facilitates global trade and makes Zhongshan a vital hub connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to the world.
"During our stay in Malaysia, we will also visit several business associations and enterprises to expand our investment promotion channels," noted Jiang Ji, Party Secretary of the Zhongshan Investment Promotion Bureau.
Southeast Asia is a key source of foreign investment for Zhongshan. Companies from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries have long invested in Zhongshan, in sectors such as healthcare, home appliances, electronics, lighting fixtures, building materials, and cross-border e-commerce.
"We hope to invite investors from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries, welcoming them to come and invest in Zhongshan."
Guo Zedong reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Text: Zhang Ruijun
Photo: Nanfang Plus
