A group of 20 journalists from across Latin America visited the Thirteen Hongs (Industries) Museum in Guangzhou on the afternoon of November 30 to learn about China's foreign trade during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The visit is part of a wider program of the Understanding China Conference, being held in Guangzhou from November 30 to December 2. During their stay, the delegation will also visit local companies and the Canton Fair Complex to see Guangdong's latest developments.
For Mynor Rene Martinez, a columnist with Guatemala's Público GT, the visit offered a chance to see the origins of objects long admired back home. "In my family, Chinese porcelain has always been something to show off with pride," he said.
"Even today, Chinese products are extremely popular in Guatemala. With the rise of e-commerce, platforms like Temu and Alibaba are widely used." Walking through the museum's galleries, he expressed amazement at how Chinese goods had traveled across oceans centuries ago.
Among the most eager visitors was Yehimy Alison González from Paraguay's National Television System, who continuously held her phone and recorded almost every exhibit, from porcelain and silk to the reconstruction of an old cargo hold.
"Many Paraguayans come here to source products and visit the Canton Fair," she said. "But they don't know the long history behind this trade. I want to tell them all about it, especially the commercial tradition that has existed here for hundreds of years."
In the evening, the delegation toured Shamian Island. Once home to consulates, banks and trading houses more than a century ago, the island still bears the architectural traces of China's early encounters with the world.
Sergio Lara Garcia, a contributing writer for Costa Rica's El País.cr, said he is particularly looking forward to discussions on China's international relations at the Understanding China Conference. "Latin American countries are now waiting for development, and China can help these countries, so their relationships are very important," he said.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | Chen Siyuan
Editor | Ouyang Yan, Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
