'Sonar Bangla' vision, 'Chinese Dream' resonate deeply, opening broad prospects for cooperation: China

China has said the vision of 'Sonar Bangla' and 'Chinese Dream' today (31 October) resonate deeply, opening broad prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

"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.

Canton Fair

On 15 October, 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 tomorrow (1 November).

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.