南方财经全媒体集团全国两会报道组 李依农 杨雨莱 北京、广州报道

On March 6, the Guangdong delegation's open day was held during the Two Sessions 2025.

We were very curious about what aspects of Guangdong the overseas audiences are actually focusing on. So, we posted a series of questions on our overseas social media accounts, such as, “What sparks your curiosity about Guangdong? What’s your impression of Guangdong?”

Fortunately, we received enthusiastic responses from netizens all around the world.

Some said “low-altitude economy” and some were curious about how Guangdong can build such mega infrastructure projects like Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. Also, someone enjoyed the life in Guangdong, telling us Guangzhou is a city with the old and new parts well integrated.

To learn more about Guangdong’s story, we invited several foreign and Chinese experts and scholars from different fields to delve deeply into the latest developments in Guangdong.

Paul Gruenwald, Global Chief Economist at S&P Global Ratings

I know there's been the Greater Bay Area, which has been sort of a development region, but for Hong Kong in particular, it's going to be the financial services and the onshore center for offshore money if that's the right way to put it. But there's also a lot of innovation and dynamism around Guangdong and that part of China. So, I mean, all of that comes together that sort of makes sense.

As the RMB becomes a more internationalized currency and as China moves up the value chain for a lot of these cutting-edge products, you have the financial role of Hong Kong and the innovation and role of Guangdong. As someone who spent some time in that region, those would be kind of the obvious advantages of that area.

Stephen Brawer, Chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden

They will play a major part in continuing the story of development within China, which is a great story.

Teo Siong Seng, Chairman of the Internationalisation Action Committee (lAC) of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF)

The Greater Bay Area, comprises, I believe, 11 counties and cities. Each of them has its own characteristics. Some of them are all manufacturing bases like Foshan and Dongguan, some are very new, for example, Huizhou, which is also developing into tourism and leisure. So I think the Greater Bay Area itself has a lot of diversity. But more important is working together. It will become a very powerful and effective economic region in Southern China, with the proximity to Hong Kong and Macao so that really can bring up the development of the whole area.

A few of them, one of them is shipping and logistics. I think the ports like Hong Kong, Yantian, Nansha (Guangzhou), Shekou are all very important ports, and so is Singapore. So especially in a time like this, where you can have a disruption in the supply chain. So the ports can work together. So that when a certain port has a difficulty, the other port can support it. I believe that, in this world of instability, it's more important that regional ports work together and complement each other. So in shipping logistics, we can do a lot of cooperation. The other is digitalization, Shenzhen is very advanced, so is Singapore pushing for it, so companies on both sides can cooperate. And also, in terms of green energy, green financing, and sustainability. So that's how I see many fields that both sides can work together. 

Lam Lung-on, Member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, President of the Greater Bay Area Importers and Exporters Association

As the President of the Greater Bay Area Importers and Exporters Association, my primary focus remains on import and export trade. In which fields can we boost trade growth? Supporting developed regions to promote new types of offshore trade is beneficial for the Greater Bay Area (GBA). 

There have been three qualified locations in the GBA, including Qianhai in Shenzhen, Nansha Port in Guangzhou, and Hengqin Port in Zhuhai. These three locations all possess the conditions to develop new types of offshore trade.

Therefore, this benefits Guangdong and the entire Greater Bay Area. From the GBA's perspective, our business environment is the best in the Chinese mainland, which is quite open and transparent. Regarding streamlining approval processes and particularly tax/fee reductions, if additional preferential tax policies could be implemented, the GBA's real economy can be expanded on the global market more rapidly, and integrate itself into the Belt and Road Initiative faster. Thus, it can seek more development opportunities.

At the Guangdong delegation's open day, journalists from some overseas news agencies also shared their views on Guangdong with us. Let's listen to them.

Sun Xianglu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of African Times

I'd like to hear about the preferential policies for overseas Chinese in Guangzhou this year, as well as better business policies. We can take these back and share with more Guangdong compatriots and Chinese merchants in South Africa, encouraging them to invest and develop in Guangdong and contribute to their hometown. At the same time, I also hope that through my promotion, more Guangdong enterprises can go global, expand into South Africa, and reach out to the broader African market.

Li Huadong, Founder of PNG China Press 

Going forward, I will collaborate more with media in Guangdong to extend the stories of Guangdong's reform and opening up. Papua New Guinea is also learning from Shenzhen's experience by setting up an economic development zone. They are emulating Shenzhen in this regard, which I think is a very positive development. 

Gao Jin, Chairman of the EUROCHINESEDAILY

Innovation soil is very fertile in China. Shenzhen is at the forefront, and so is Guangdong. This is the current situation. I want to see Guangdong's policy orientation in AI, the statements from the government and entrepreneurs, because many delegates are well-known Chinese entrepreneurs who will surely convey some important messages.  Also, in manufacturing, AI is being in extensive use. Guangdong definitely has a lot to offer in this regard, given its strong manufacturing sector.

Firstly, China is a major manufacturing power in the world, and Guangdong is the leading province in manufacturing within China. Therefore, in China's manufacturing sector, if you want to select products and manufacturing capabilities: Look at Guangdong and including Shenzhen first. Second, for innovative products, Guangdong already has a wide range of products that are not only first in China but also globally. Moreover, they offer the best value. In terms of innovation, especially in technology products, there are numerous examples such as BYD and DJI. In fact, Guangdong also excels in software development; the world's largest financial software is based in Qianhai. In addition to these, Guangdong itself has influential ports like Yantian and Shekou in Shenzhen, which hold significant global influence.

Yin Cuijian, Journalist at Jornal Puxin

When it comes to cooperation and exchange between Guangdong and Portugal, there has been quite a lot. Last year, there were many delegations and business groups visiting Portugal for exchanges. I hope that Guangdong, or the entire Greater Bay Area, will continue to enhance exchanges with Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries to promote bilateral economic trade and cultural exchanges.

Chief Producer: Yu Xiaona

Supervising Producer: Shi Shi

Editor: He Jia

Reporter: Li Yinong, Yang Yulai

Video Editor: Li Qun

Photographer: Xiao Hang

New Media Coordination: Ding Qingyun, Zeng Tingfang, Lai Xi, Huang Daxun

Overseas Operations Supervising Producer: Huang Yanshu

Overseas Content Coordinator: Huang Zihao

Overseas Operations Editors: Zhuang Huan, Wu Wanjie, Long Lihua, Zhang Weitao

Produced by: Southern Finance Omnimedia Group