‘Sonar Bangla’ and ‘Chinese Dream’ open new cooperation paths

"We are confident that this vision will bring even more cooperation opportunities for Guangzhou and Bangladesh," said Liu Liu, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government.

She made the remarks during a dinner hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office in honour of the visiting delegation of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at Hilton Hotel here on Thursday.

DCAB President AKM Moinuddin, General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun, among others, were present.

Liu said the friendship between Bangladesh and China stretches back centuries, with figures such as Xuanzang and Zheng He leaving behind inspiring stories of exchange.

"Since we established diplomatic relations in 1975, our bilateral ties have grown steadily," she said.

Silk Road

Liu said Guangzhou is striving to become a beautiful, livable, and dynamic international metropolis - a top destination for foreign investment, talent, and business growth.  
 
"We look forward to working closely with you, carrying forward the enduring spirit of the Silk Road and deepening practical cooperation for a mutually beneficial and bright future," she said.

On behalf of Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Liu extended their warmest welcome to the visiting journalists and thanked the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh for their enduring support.
 
"As a dynamic hub of China’s reform and opening up, Guangzhou serves as the country’s southern gateway to the world. Our city is defined by three key international roles," She said.
 
First, Liu said, Guangzhou is a millennia-old trading hub, connected with over 200 countries and regions.

"Both our total retail sales and foreign trade volume exceed 1.1 trillion RMB, and the Canton Fair - having been held for 138 consecutive sessions - leads China in exhibition scale and frequency," she said.
 
Second, Liu said they are a global transport and logistics hub.

Guangzhou is home to China Southern Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier, as well as the country’s biggest single-terminal airport.

Guangzhou Port ranks fifth globally in cargo throughput and sixth in container throughput.

"Our high-speed railway network leads the nation in both departures and passenger volume," Liu said.
 
Third, she said, Guangzhou serves as a center for international exchange.

"We host 69 consulates-general and maintain partnerships with 110 cities and 60 ports worldwide," Liu mentioned.

Over 50,000 foreign enterprises operate here, and 368 Fortune Global 500 companies have invested in nearly 2,000 projects across the city.
 
These roles are supported by five core strengths, Liu said.

Guangzhou is a populous metropolis with 18.98 million permanent residents and 84 universities educating 1.65 million students.

"We are also an economic powerhouse, with a 2024 GDP of 3.1 trillion yuan, ranking fifth in China," Liu said.

As a hub for innovation, the city hosts 15,000 high-tech firms and 24 unicorn companies, ranking ninth globally.

"With a history of 2,239 years, Guangzhou is also a celebrated cultural capital, home to world-class landmarks such as the Guangzhou Opera House and Chimelong Resort," Liu said.

"Finally, our city is a model of green development, recognized with the UN-endorsed LivCom Award and home to ecological treasures such as the Haizhu Wetland and the South China National Botanical Garden," she added.

The DCAB delegation began its week-long tour to Guangdong Province on October 29.

They visited the Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center, joined Pearl River Night Cruise, visited Guangzhou Xin Shi Hospital, Guangzhou Metro Bureau’s under-construction metro project and China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair).

Canton Fair

On October 15, the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair began with the number of exhibitors exceeding 32,000, a record high.

Scheduled to end on November 4 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, this edition of the fair has also attracted a record number of buyers.

A good number of Bangladeshi visitors were seen at the fair on Friday.

Among them -- the number of buyers from the European Union, the United States and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative has increased significantly. Meanwhile, more than 400 leading purchasing companies will attend the fair.

According to surveys conducted ahead of the fair, over 1 million new products developed in the past year will be showcased at this edition of fair, while around 800,000 items will make their debuts at the fair.

This edition of the Canton Fair will, for the first time, feature a smart medical zone -- which has attracted 47 companies showcasing products such as surgical robots, intelligent monitoring systems and wearable devices.

It will continue to feature a service robot zone, which has drawn 46 leading industry players to display their humanoid robots, robotic dogs and other innovations.

Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.

The DCAB delegation members, who visited the Canton Fair, will be visiting the Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen on Saturday.

They will also visit Shenzhen Talent Park and Nantou Ancient City.

On Monday, they will visit Zhudong Village or Langtou Village in Chini Town and Canton Tower, reports UNB.