The foreign trade volume of the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) reached 7.22 trillion yuan (approximately 1.00 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first ten months of this year, marking an 11 percent increase year-on-year, according to customs authorities in south China's Guangdong Province.
Covering a total area of 56,000 square kilometers, the GBA consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province -- Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing. It is one of the most economically open and vibrant areas in China.
Growing 5.8 percent faster than the national foreign trade, the trade volume of the nine mainland cities accounted for 20 percent of China's total import and export volume during the same period.
Exports of industrial robots, electric vehicles, ships, and marine engineering equipment from the nine mainland cities increased by 53.3 percent, 49.2 percent, and 38.3 percent, respectively, in the first ten months of this year.
In 2023, the trade volume of the nine mainland cities reached 7.95 trillion yuan (approximately 1.11 trillion U.S. dollars), marking an increase of 0.4 percent and accounting for 19 percent of the total import and export value of the country.
Mainland cities in Greater Bay Area see foreign trade volume up 11 pct in first 10 months
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
