"Are you going to buy this car?"
"Why not? It's a very good electric car", smiled Riza Poda, ambassador of Albania to China.
That exchange captured the atmosphere as diplomats from nine countries visited XPENG's Guangzhou smart manufacturing base on May 13 during the 2026 "Discover China Cultural Tour." After exploring Guangdong's cultural heritage, the diplomats stepped into another side of the province—its rapidly growing technology and electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Inside XPENG's showroom, many diplomats showed strong interest in the company's EVs, examining the cars up close and learning about their smart features, automation systems, and energy efficiency.
Among them was Albanian Ambassador Riza Poda, who said he was seriously considering buying an XPENG car in China. "I really like XPENG cars," he said after touring the showroom.
For the ambassador, one of the biggest advantages of EVs is practicality. He pointed out that fuel prices remain high in Europe, while EVs offer a more economical alternative. "They are very comfortable and modern cars," he noted, adding that electric cars "cost almost nothing" to operate compared with traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
Beyond the vehicles themselves, the diplomats were also introduced to the factory's highly automated production lines, where robotics and artificial intelligence play a central role in manufacturing.
Arthur Kalaluka, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Zambia in China, described what he witnessed in the manufacturing base as "the future of the world."
"All the artificial intelligence that you have seen here is quite advanced and very smart," he said. According to Kalaluka, automation helps reduce the intensity of human labor while improving manufacturing precision and quality control. "We can see that China is a leading country in this advancement of artificial intelligence," he added.
The Zambian diplomat also connected the visit to future international cooperation in green energy. He said Zambia hopes to strengthen collaboration with China in areas such as battery manufacturing and EV supply chains, noting that Zambia has abundant natural resources that could support the EV industry.
"We are eager to learn," Kalaluka said. "There's a lot we can learn from the Chinese. It's quite impressive."
For many of the visiting diplomats, the tour offered more than just a factory visit. It provided a closer look at how Guangzhou and Guangdong are positioning themselves at the forefront of green technology, smart manufacturing, and the global transition toward sustainable mobility.
Reporter: Li Fangwang
Cameraman: Guo Hongda, Li Fangwang
Video editor: Guo Hongda
Photo & Poster: Guo Hongda
