Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – “I was deeply impressed by the grand construction of the Pinglu Canal. Once completed, this monumental project will significantly reduce logistics costs and improve transportation efficiency, making it highly attractive to Macao businesses investing and setting up factories. Next, I will organize a special inspection tour for representatives of Macao business associations to strive to bring potential projects to fruition,” said Deng Yongyuan, Standing Committee Member of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region CPPCC, Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and President of the Macao Guangxi Friendship Association.
From June 11th to 14th, a delegation of representatives from the Macao overseas Chinese community visited Guangxi for inspection and research. They visited the Datengxia Hydropower Project, the Guangxi Nationalities Museum, the Pinglu Canal construction site, the Qinzhou Port Area of the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the China-ASEAN Specialty Commodity Exchange Center, among other places, to gain a firsthand understanding of Guangxi's economic and social development and to explore cooperation opportunities.
In an interview during the visit, Deng Yongyuan stated that Macao serves as a platform for trade and economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, while Guangxi is a frontier and window for China's opening up and cooperation with ASEAN. The two regions have strong complementarity and enormous potential for cooperation.
Deng Yongyuan introduced that, as an important bridge for Guangxi-Macau friendship, the Macau Guangxi Friendship Association has actively participated in a series of activities in recent years, including the 20th World Guangxi Compatriots Friendship Conference, the Guangxi-Macau Famous and High-Quality Products Exhibition, and the Guangxi-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Development Business Forum, focusing on unity and friendship. These activities have allowed more Macau residents to learn about Guangxi and have influenced and driven a number of Macau enterprises to invest in Guangxi, covering industries such as real estate, hotels, catering, trade, transportation, culture and tourism, logistics, and agriculture.
In 2023, the Macau Guangxi Friendship Association held its first Guangxi-Macau Famous and High-Quality Products Exhibition, attracting more than 80 Guangxi and Macau enterprises, with on-site cooperation exceeding 10 million RMB. Deng Yongyuan stated that, to further deepen Guangxi-Macau cooperation, this year, the Macau Guangxi Friendship Association will continue to hold the Guangxi-Macau Famous and High-Quality Products Exhibition and the Guangxi-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Development Business Forum, attracting people from all walks of life to invest in Guangxi and engage in public welfare and charitable undertakings.
Deng Yongyuan told reporters that in April this year, the Macau Guangxi Friendship Association introduced the Macau Guangxi Federation of Industry and Commerce to sign an agreement with the Yulin Municipal People's Government, focusing on cooperation in areas such as new crop planting, oilseed processing, and product branding. Projects including crop gene research experiments will commence construction soon.
After visiting the China-ASEAN Specialty Commodities Exchange Center, Hu Zijun, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Macau Guangxi Federation of Associations, was deeply impressed by Guangxi's superior geographical advantages. He said that Guangxi is the gateway to the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, with convenient transportation links to ASEAN. Macau goods can also better explore the ASEAN market by participating in the China-ASEAN Expo.
Hu Zijun suggested that Guangxi and Macau could engage in in-depth cooperation in tourism, culture, and finance, jointly developing tourism products and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the tourism industry. At the same time, by actively introducing Macau's capital and technology, Guangxi can promote industrial upgrading and innovative development.
"In addition, by holding various distinctive festivals and events, Guangxi and Macau can not only enhance friendship but also strengthen economic and trade cooperation, achieving common prosperity and development," Hu Zijun said.
During her visit, Liao Zixin, a member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and a writer from Macao, was deeply impressed by the Guangxi Nationalities Museum and the diverse ethnic cultures of Guangxi displayed there. She remarked that Guangxi's ethnic cultures have a long history and are rich and varied, with the Zhuang people's bronze drums being particularly unique, and their brocade and embroidered balls being exceptionally beautiful.
"Currently, Guangxi is building a demonstration zone for strengthening the sense of community of the Chinese nation, promoting extensive exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups, and achieving a peaceful and prosperous life. This has provided new ideas for my creative work. In the future, I will incorporate elements of Guangxi's ethnic culture into my works," said Liao Zixin.
Liang Siyu, a member of the Youth Committee of the Guangxi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, is very optimistic about the development of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Guangxi Free Trade Zone. He said that the port here is fully automated, with world-leading transportation efficiency. Goods from all over the world can enter markets throughout China through the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, providing excellent opportunities for young overseas Chinese to start businesses.
Liang Siyu stated that he will work with like-minded friends to "venture out" in Guangxi, striving to discover business opportunities and open up new horizons for their careers.
Liu Yiliang, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, stated that his visit to Guangxi revealed the positive development of many overseas Chinese-invested and Hong Kong and Macao enterprises, boosting their confidence in investing in the mainland. He added that they will encourage more Macao entrepreneurs to invest and develop businesses in Guangxi, and hope to assist more Guangxi enterprises in leveraging Macao's advantages as an international free port to better "go global" and explore international markets, especially Portuguese-speaking countries.
During the visit, Sun Dawei, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region CPPCC, met with the delegation and stated that Guangxi and Macao have a long history of exchanges and cooperation. He hoped that Macao's overseas Chinese community would act as a bridge to deepen cooperation between Guangxi and Macao in various fields, encouraging more Macao businesspeople to invest in Guangxi, jointly expanding into ASEAN, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Portuguese-speaking countries markets, achieving mutual benefit and win-win development. (End)
