As organized by the Commissioner's Office of the Foreign Ministry of China in the HKSAR, a delegation of consular corps and business communities in HK arrived in South China's Guangzhou for a visit, uncovering groundbreaking technologies and forging pathways for international collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The tour highlighted advancements in electric vehicles (EVs), flying cars, and medical technology, sparking enthusiasm for international partnerships.
The delegation's first stop was XPeng Motors' headquarters, where they experienced the company's latest autonomous driving systems and smart cockpit technologies. Stancilus Musiwa, Consul of Zimbabwe in Hong Kong, was particularly impressed by the comfort of the vehicles, exclaiming, "You can feel the seats; it's like (you) being massaged."
Brian Davidson, British Consul General to Hong Kong, hops on a flying vehicle at XPeng AeroHT.
According to Brian Davidson, British Consul General to Hong Kong, Guangzhou's rapid transformation since his last visit 15 years ago is noteworthy: "I probably left Guangzhou about 15 years ago… It feels a little bit like coming back home." Davidson emphasized the UK's strong interest in deepening ties with China's tech sector, particularly in AI, EVs, and quantum physics. "We have some of the best universities in the world, as well as many leading research institutes… and we already have very strong collaborations with Hong Kong and with other regions in southern China," he noted, highlighting the potential for joint innovation to tackle global challenges.
The transition to sustainable mobility emerged as a key theme. XiXi, a member of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (HK and Macao), pointed out Malaysia's shift from oil dependency to green energy, despite existing subsidies for gasoline. "There are obstacles, but I think there are many areas where we could cooperate," she said, singling out Chinese EV brands like XPeng as ideal partners.
Alfred Cheng Man On, Head of Corporate Banking at BNI Hong Kong, highlighted Indonesia's vast natural resources for battery production and proposed leveraging Hong Kong's financial ecosystem to facilitate investments. "We want to utilize Hong Kong as an international financial center to attract more EV manufacturers in the Chinese mainland to invest in Indonesia," he explained, envisioning a "win-win solution" for both nations.
At the Innovation Center of High-performance Medical Device of GBA, delegates witnessed the GBA's advancements in healthcare technology. Md Kamrul Hasan, Consul of Bangladesh in Hong Kong, expressed optimism about ongoing bilateral projects, stating, "Things are progressing well, and hopefully cooperation will be strengthened in the near future."
Consular delegates visit the Innovation Center of High-performance Medical Device of GBA.
Maurits Engbert ter Kuile, Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, identified climate change and medical advancements as critical areas for collaboration. "For us, especially regarding what we call global goods… those are very interesting fields for the Netherlands and for China," he remarked, underscoring the shared responsibility in addressing global challenges.
From flying cars to sustainable mobility and medical innovation, the tour reinforced Guangzhou's reputation as a hub of technological progress—and a catalyst for international synergy. The consensus was clear: the future of global cooperation is being shaped in the GBA.