From Maritime Silk Road Hub to"Trade Window": Guangdong's Continuous Push for Opening Up

GUANGDONG, China,Sept. 16, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Guangzhou inGuangdong Provincehas been a prominent port where Sino-foreign trade flourished, attracting numerous foreign merchants who traveled here along the Maritime Silk Road.

Following the founding ofthe People's Republic of China,Guangdongcontinued to serve asChina's"trade window."To earn foreign exchange and meet the country's urgent demand for various imported materials necessary for large-scale economic construction,Guangdongcapitalized on its geographical proximity toHong KongandMacaoto host three export fairs fromOctober 1955toMay 1956. In this context, officials from the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Guangdong Provincial Government considered hosting a national export fair inGuangzhou.

FromApril 25 to May 25, 1957, the first Canton Fair took place, covering an exhibition area of 9,600 square meters and showcasing 10,900 categories of goods. The event attracted 1,223 buyers from 19 countries and regions, achieving an export turnover of$17.54 million. Today, the Canton Fair stands as the longest-running and largest comprehensive international trade exhibition inChina, often regarded as"China'sNo. 1 Exhibition."As of the first half of 2024, this grand event has successfully hosted 135 sessions, established trade relations with 229 countries and regions worldwide, achieved a cumulative export turnover of approximately$1.5 trillion, and attracted over 9.3 million overseas participants. The fair has significantly enhanced trade exchanges and fostered friendly ties betweenChinaand other countries and regions across the globe.

In 2015, theChina(Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established inShenzhen,Guangdong, making it one of the second batch of pilot free trade zones approved inChina.Johannes Jozef Bults, a Dutch entrepreneur engaged in import and export in the Qianhai and Shekou Area ofShenzhen, an integral part of the pilot free trade zone, noted that since the establishment of the zone, he has witnessed a continuous optimization of the business environment."The government's support, from company registration to everyday operations, has made it incredibly convenient for entrepreneurs to do business here,"he remarked.

Gu Qingyang, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at theNational University of Singapore, expressed thatChinais currently at a critical stage of development. He anticipates thatGuangdongwill continue to embody the pioneering spirit of innovation and exploration, boldly venturing into avenues for high-quality development inChina.

Since 2024, the term"new quality productive forces"has become a frequently discussed theme in economic plans across various sectors and regions inGuangdong. The province is dedicated to developing the manufacturing industry and prioritizing the real economy, aiming to build a modern industrial system with international competitiveness and accelerate the formation of"new quality productive forces."Additionally,Guangdongis committed to enhancing theGuangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focusing on strengthening major infrastructure connectivity, improving foreign trade cooperation, accelerating industrial investment, and promoting collaboration in marine sectors. The province is also working to continually improve its maritime, land, and air transportation while leading in institutional openness regarding rules, regulations, management, and standards within the Greater Bay Area.

The spirit of openness from the Maritime Silk Road continues to thrive. Today,Guangdonghas become a microcosm ofChina'sreform and opening-up, serving as a vital window for the world to understand and engage withChina.

Contact:Mei Zhang

Tel.:0086-18611686759

E-mail:1713543383@qq.com

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SOURCEGuangdong Province