Guangdong's rise impresses, inspires ambassadors

Glimpse into the future

In addition to learning about experimental development in Shenzhen, the foreign envoys saw flying taxis, and robots playing the piano and brewing coffee. They also observed the fully intelligent manufacturing process for new energy vehicles and learned about the province's clean energy solutions.

Austrian Ambassador to China Wolf Dietrich Heim said one of the most memorable moments was seeing electric vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft up close. "It was quite impressive to see in real life," he said, noting that some companies have already received certification for urban operations.

He also showed keen interest during his visit to Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. "China is now very successfully producing electric vehicles that are being manufactured in Austria, and from there are sold in many European countries," he said. Austria and China have a lot of successful cooperation in the mobility sector, and in energy and green transformation, the ambassador added.

At the headquarters of Mingyang Smart Energy Group, a wind turbine manufacturer and clean-energy solutions provider based in Zhongshan, representatives and foreign diplomats held talks on cooperation and other business matters.

Last year, the company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sindh province of Pakistan, with Khalil Hashmi, the country's ambassador to China, signing the agreement in person. "And now I am here at the headquarters of this great company," Hashmi said, adding that Pakistan is restructuring its energy mix by adding solar, wind, hydro and nuclear power.

The country is negotiating with Chinese enterprises to launch more projects and advance bilateral energy cooperation, he said.

Kenya's ambassador Bett said the country is also advancing its transition to non-fossil energy sources, with over 90 percent of its energy currently derived from renewable resources.

"This is something we are advocating for, and seeing happen now," he said. The company's implementation of net-zero strategies provides important models for collaboration.

He added that, given Kenya's aspirations, partnerships with Chinese provinces and companies are essential to accelerating the adoption of clean energy solutions and driving sustainable industrial development.