A recent visit to Zhongshan, Guangdong, organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for foreign consuls and business leaders based in Hong Kong has concluded. Participants experienced firsthand the dynamic growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"Zhongshan's development achievements showcase the vitality of Greater Bay Area cities, with surprises at every turn," remarked multiple foreign consuls-general, chamber of commerce representatives, and executives from multinational corporations and financial institutions. They noted that the city, rich in cultural heritage, demonstrates strong innovative momentum in sectors like biomedicine and new energy, underscoring the region's potential as fertile ground for cooperation.
The delegation visited the Cuiheng New Area Planning Exhibition Hall in Zhongshan. Connectivity emerged as a key theme for development. The itinerary included passage via the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, which reduces travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan to just half an hour. Scheduled to open on June 30, 2024, this world-class cross-sea cluster project, integrating bridges, islands, a tunnel, and an underwater interchange, has set ten world records. From the western artificial island, members observed the towering skyline of Shenzhen's Qianhai to the east and the bustling traffic flow on the link to the west, gaining a tangible sense of the convenience offered by the Greater Bay Area's "one-hour living circle."
"This cross-sea project not only improves transportation links but also connects industrial chains," praised Nepalese Consul General in Hong Kong. The Acting Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong admitted it was his first time hearing about and experiencing the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link firsthand, stating, "Such a magnificent integrated project demonstrates China's astounding infrastructure capabilities."
A Director of Public Affairs at a major conglomerate emphasized that transportation infrastructure strengthens the foundation for Zhongshan's foreign trade, with the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link injecting strong momentum into the city's open development. He suggested that Hong Kong and mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area should deepen coordination in areas like airports, seaports, and rail transit, believing that closer connectivity will unlock broader market opportunities.
The Chairman of a European business association in Hong Kong stated that the visit reaffirmed the significant progress in the Greater Bay Area's development. He highlighted interconnectivity as crucial for regional growth and noted that Hong Kong, serving as a bridge connecting the Chinese mainland with the world, is attracting a growing number of European companies to establish and expand their operations.
The delegation also visited the Global Brand Lighting Center. The business environment in Zhongshan was seen as empowering advanced manufacturing. At a leading smart energy company, the Chairman of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong showed keen interest, carefully observing models of energy products and technologies. The company is deeply engaged in the global wind power and new energy sectors and actively promotes international supply chain cooperation. The Chairman mentioned a previous personal visit to Zhongshan where he appreciated its cultural and natural beauty; this official visit allowed him to directly experience the city's excellent business environment and smart manufacturing capabilities, seeing broad potential for Sino-Swiss cooperation in renewable energy.
Zhongshan boasts diverse industrial strengths, with its lighting fixtures from Guzhen being a standout. The area has formed a lighting industrial cluster with an annual output value exceeding 100 billion yuan, holding 70% of the domestic market share and exporting to international markets including Europe, America, the Middle East, and Latin America. Within a 5-kilometer radius in Guzhen, complete custom lighting supply chains operate with high efficiency and short production cycles, supported by specialized lighting institutes for talent development, vividly demonstrating the supporting capacity of the Greater Bay Area's "one-hour industrial circle." The Chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong expressed amazement, noting, "Lighting fixtures for the lobbies and banquet halls of many global luxury hotels originate from this town, which is truly impressive."
The delegation highly commended Zhongshan's business climate. The Acting Consul General of Belarus in Hong Kong found the visited companies each had distinct highlights, with notable potential in anti-cancer drug R&D, robotics products offering both economic and social benefits, and new energy firms setting global benchmarks in green equipment manufacturing. She observed that Zhongshan has a clear positioning in sustainable energy and biomedicine and is poised for higher-quality development through regional synergy.
The European business association Chairman pointed out that large European enterprises are already widely established in the Greater Bay Area, and chambers are assisting more innovative companies to set up locally. The conglomerate director added that Hong Kong, leveraging its strengths as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre, can empower Zhongshan enterprises to "go global" while also building bridges for foreign capital to enter Zhongshan, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for all parties.
During the two-day itinerary, besides inspecting companies representing new quality productive forces and the global lighting center, the delegation also visited the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Residence. Designated as a National First-Grade Museum and a 5A-level tourist attraction, the residence is located in Cuiheng Village, Nanlang Street, Zhongshan, situated at the geometric center of the Greater Bay Area, and is the birthplace of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. In 1892, he personally designed and oversaw the construction of the main building, which blends Chinese and Western architectural styles. An acid tree he brought back from Honolulu and planted still thrives today, bearing witness to the growth of the great revolutionary.
"Having worked in several mainland cities, I understand the profound influence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's spirit. Visiting his hometown for the first time adds a deeper sense of this legacy's weight. This is where his revolutionary ideals took root, making it exceptionally significant," commented the Korean Acting Consul General.
The New Zealand Chamber Chairman believed the memorial comprehensively presents Dr. Sun's life, helping the world better understand this modern pioneer. The spirit of daring to explore and innovate in the Greater Bay Area is consistent with his ideals, reflecting the profound heritage of Zhongshan as a city.
Reflecting on the visit, the European business association Chairman described it as highly rewarding. "We contemplated the historical and cultural context at the former residence, marveled at the engineering miracle of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, and witnessed industrial vitality at the lighting center. Here, history, culture, and modern industry coexist and blend seamlessly."