Guangdong's rise impresses, inspires ambassadors

Gateway to the world

Guangdong has long served as China's gateway to the world, and many ambassadors pointed to the province's combination of local dynamism and global connectivity.

Bett described the policy of opening-up as "a blessing to the whole world", saying that opening of China means the technologies produced domestically will be shared globally and Kenya will benefit from it.

Bett said China's growing number of imports and tariff-free treatment for many African exports could create opportunities for products such as Kenyan coffee and avocados to reach more Chinese consumers.

He highlighted the deepening ties between Kenya and Guangdong, particularly Guangzhou, which has become a major hub for Kenyan traders.

"Enhanced connectivity is playing a vital role in bringing our peoples and businesses closer together," he said, adding that direct flights between Guangzhou and the capital Nairobi have significantly strengthened links between Guangdong, Kenya, and the East African region.

"These connections are facilitating tourism, investment, business travel, and cargo movement, while opening new opportunities for cooperation between our respective enterprises and institutions," Bett added.

Looking ahead, Kenya hopes to further deepen cooperation with the province in trade, investment and tourism, he said.

As the province is an integral part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, one of China's most economically dynamic city clusters, the ambassadors also expressed their interest in leveraging their visit to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the GBA.

FlorCruz from the Philippines said that the GBA represents the next evolution of China's development philosophy.

The region seeks to bring together Guangdong's manufacturing and innovation strength, Hong Kong's international financial and professional services, and Macao's strengths in tourism, as well as international exchanges, he said.

FlorCruz said the GBA's significance extends far beyond southern China. It is increasingly shaping economic activity and supply chains throughout Asia and beyond, he said, adding that business decisions made here increasingly affect economies across the region.

"Many of the industries driving growth here are precisely the sectors where the Philippines hopes to attract greater investment and cooperation. We welcome partnerships that create jobs, transfer knowledge, develop skills, strengthen industries, and help our economy become more competitive and innovative."

Last year, Turkiye's trade with Guangdong reached $7.8 billion, which accounts for about 15 percent of the country's total trade with China, according to Turkiye's Ambassador to China Selcuk Unal.

Unal said cooperation with the province involves machinery, equipment, food products and industrial goods.

Guangdong has become an important destination for Turkish investment, while Chinese companies from the province are increasingly investing in Turkiye, he said. "We are going to investigate more ways to increase collaboration between Turkish and Chinese companies," Unal said.

Shared opportunities

As diplomats looked beyond Guangdong's present achievements, many focused on what China's next stage of development could mean for the world.

China is implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan, which is guiding economic and social development through the second half of this decade.

Unal said that Turkiye is carefully studying the plan. He believes there will be more, and better, opportunities to coordinate joint efforts for a fairer trade basis.

Fiji's Ambassador to China Robert Lee said one of the most striking aspects of China's development is its commitment to long-term planning.

"China's development is a spectrum," he said. "Whatever stage of development a country is in, it can find a relative point on that spectrum that China has gone through."

During his Guangdong visit, Lee said he was impressed by the clarity of development goals and the determination to achieve them."For small island countries, we need that kind of focus," he said."China is showing what is possible."

China is also engaging with the world, and it is demonstrating that not just in words but through actions.

The Fijian ambassador said the country's 15th Five-Year Plan is expected to bring significant benefits not only to China but also to other countries as Chinese enterprises expand abroad. As Chinese companies invest overseas, they are increasingly expected to adhere to higher standards, particularly in environmental protection, governance, and inclusive development.

He emphasized that this includes ensuring local communities benefit from investment and that host economies share in the gains of development. "There is a strong commitment to win-win cooperation rather than a win for one side alone," the ambassador said.

Such priorities create important opportunities for cooperation and shared growth, he added.

Luis Oswaldo Lopez Alvarez, ambassador of El Salvador to China, said China's 15th Five-Year Plan presents significant opportunities for cooperation, particularly in emerging sectors such as clean energy and agricultural technology.

He noted that during the Guangdong visit, discussions and demonstrations on new energy development, including ocean-based energy applications, were especially interesting and offered potential areas for further exploration in Latin America.

The ambassador said the visit allowed him to better understand China's development journey and the hard work, discipline and commitment that have driven its transformation over the past decades.

He believes that in the future China will continue to make progress through its long-term planning and vision.

"We have a lot in common, and I see great opportunities for our countries to deepen cooperation and work more closely together for the benefit of our peoples," he said.