OCMFA's Zhongshan Tour: First Stop in Cuiheng New Area - Exploring New Productive Forces

To commemorate the 160th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) organized a delegation visit to Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, from April 9 to 10, under the theme "Visit Zhongshan: Together for Stronger Hong Kong and Zhongshan Cooperation".  The delegation included representatives from foreign businesses, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and Consular Corps in Hong Kong.

The first stop for the delegation was the Cuiheng New District Planning Exhibition Hall. Located in eastern Zhongshan, Cuiheng New District is a key development platform within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Adjacent to the Zhongshan Landing Point of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, the District boasts significant locational advantages.

The Cuiheng New District Planning Exhibition Hall, Photo by Bastille Post

The exhibition hall comprehensively showcases the development blueprint of Cuiheng New District as a frontier for Shenzhen-Zhongshan cooperation, with a focus on future technologies, industrial innovation, and livable environment planning. The visit provided the delegation with a deeper understanding of Zhongshan's strategic positioning in the development of the Greater Bay Area.

The development blueprint of Cuiheng New District, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Clement Woo Kin-man, MH, JP, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, stated that the HKSAR Government has always been supportive of such formal exchange activities, as they serve as an important channel for ongoing intergovernmental cooperation. He noted that Zhongshan, as a key city in the Greater Bay Area, shares geographical proximity, cultural ties, and a common language with Hong Kong, making it worthwhile to share with the delegation about how Zhongshan can better align with the Greater Bay Area's development and achieve high-quality growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. He also remarked that 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth, making Zhongshan a particularly meaningful destination.

Mr. Clement Woo Kin-man, MH, JP, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Photo by Bastille Post

When asked why the first stop of the tour was Cuiheng New Area, Mr. Woo explained that the area is a newly developed region, and since the delegation traveled directly from Shenzhen to Zhongshan via the newly opened Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge—a mega-project that allowed foreign visitors to experience firsthand the scale and effectiveness of the construction. He believed that the visit to Cuiheng New Area was intended to introduce one of Zhongshan's newest and most developed areas to the foreign delegation members. In his eyes, Cuiheng New Area is a key development zone in Zhongshan, connected to other regions by both land bridges and waterways.
Regarding the special arrangement to experience the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, Mr. Woo believed it was necessary. He pointed out that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is of great significance and means far more than simply "building another bridge." Last year, the Greater Bay Area's GDP reached 15 trillion RMB, ranking 11th globally as an economy, representing a huge business opportunity with enormous market potential.

The delegation then visited two representative enterprises of Zhongshan's new productive forces: XSTO Co., Ltd. and Akeso (Zhongshan) Biopharma Co., Ltd.

The delegation then visited two representative enterprises of Zhongshan's new productive forces: XSTO Co., Ltd. Photo by Bastille Post

The representatives of XSTO showcased their independently developed stair-climbing robot and intelligent handling solutions to the delegation, demonstrating their competitive edge in both domestic and international markets. Photo by Bastille Post

XSTO Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and development of special-purpose robots and intelligent equipment. Its products include building logistics robots and stair-climbing assistance devices, which are widely used in logistics, healthcare, and other scenarios. The representatives of XSTO showcased their independently developed stair-climbing robot and intelligent handling solutions to the delegation, demonstrating their competitive edge in both domestic and international markets.

Akeso's independently developed PD-1/CTLA-4 bi-specific immunotherapy drug, Cadonilimab, is the world's first approved bi-specific immunotherapy drug for oncology(left). Photo by Bastille Post

The delegation toured Akeso's R&D center and production base, learning about its innovative drug development process and international market presence. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Akeso (Zhongshan) Biopharma Co., Ltd. (09926) is a benchmark enterprise in Zhongshan's biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on the development of biopharmaceuticals in oncology, immunology, and other fields. Its independently developed PD-1/CTLA-4 bi-specific immunotherapy drug, Cadonilimab, is the world's first approved bi-specific immunotherapy drug for oncology, marking China's leap from a follower to a leader in this field. The delegation toured Akeso's R&D center and production base, learning about its innovative drug development process and international market presence.

Mr. Benjamin Kristoffer Sigg, the representative of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Benjamin Kristoffer Sigg, the representative of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, stated that it's his first time visiting a corporation like XSTO. In Zhongshan, he had the opportunity to personally experience such an advanced enterprise for the first time. Viewing the intelligent wheelchairs and embodied robotic technology, he couldn't help but recall the wheelchairs his grandparents' generation used, marveling at how rapidly technology has advanced. He believed these technologies would have enormous potential, not only in assistive healthcare, but also in heavy lifting and efficiency improvement.

Mr. Sigg believed that the delegation tour this time allowed him to truly connect with advanced enterprises in Zhongshan for the first time, making him confident about their enormous business potential and cooperation opportunities in the future. Photo by Bastille Post

When asked about the cooperation opportunities between Zhongshan and Switzerland, he acknowledged that such opportunities exist, particularly in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, where Zhongshan and Switzerland have a clear connection. He noted that a representative from Akeso explained that the corporation primarily collaborates with the U.S. and has not yet entered the European market. In his eyes, Switzerland, home to globally renowned pharmaceutical giants like Novartis and Roche, represents a good entry point for mutual collaboration. He hoped both sides could further explore cooperation and fully leverage Hong Kong's advantages as an international financial and business platform, allowing the city to act as a bridge to facilitate cooperation. As a representative of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, he will actively promote the work in such a field.

He also mentioned that this was his second time visiting the Greater Bay Area. His first trip to Zhongshan last year was for the Chinese New Year celebration with his family, where they stayed for several weeks. That trip was primarily a family vacation, and there wasn't an opportunity for him to visit businesses. He believed that the delegation tour this time allowed him to truly connect with advanced enterprises in Zhongshan for the first time, making him confident about their enormous business potential and cooperation opportunities in the future.

On the afternoon of April 10, the delegation visited the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the western artificial Island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, marking the conclusion of their two-day tour.

On the afternoon of April 10, the delegation visited the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo by Bastille Post

The delegation first visited Cuiheng Village, the hometown of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and then toured the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The museum is a national first-class museum and the centerpiece of the Sun Yat-sen's Hometown Tourism Area, a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Located in Cuiheng Village, it lies approximately 100 kilometers south of Guangzhou and about 30 kilometers north of Macau, facing Shenzhen and Hong Kong across the Pearl River Estuary. Dr. Sun Yat-sen was born here in 1866. In 1892, he personally designed and supervised the construction of his two-story residence, which features a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. A tamarind tree that he brought back from Honolulu still grows in the front yard.

The delegation visited Dr. Sun Yat-sen's former residence. Photo by Bastille Post

The delegation visited Dr. Sun Yat-sen's former residence, touring the restored furnishings from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period, including his study and the family's bedrooms, gaining an understanding of his early living environment. They then visited the Cuiheng Folk Houses Exhibition Area, which recreates the daily lives and customs of various social classes in the Pearl River Delta countryside during that era, offering a glimpse into the hometown roots that shaped Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary ideas.

The delegation visited the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo by Bastille Post

To conclude the visit, the delegation visited the western artificial island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, observing how this massive infrastructure project has significantly reduced the distance between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, boosting connectivity across the Greater Bay Area. The Channel, combining bridges, islands, tunnels, and underwater interchanges, spans about 24 kilometers. Since its opening, travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan has been reduced from two hours to within 30 minutes, highlighting Zhongshan's strategic position as the geometric center of the Greater Bay Area.

The delegation visited the western artificial island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Johannes Hack, Chair of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, stated that the visit to Zhongshan left him deeply impressed by the tremendous progress China has made, which now still continues. He noted that the mega project of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel fully demonstrates the importance of connectivity and that Hong Kong plays a crucial role in this regard. According to him, the European Chamber of Commerce is pleased to have Hong Kong as its base, serving as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world. Everything they have seen during the visit demonstrates the strong and enduring connection between Europe and China. He believed that maintaining the mutual partnership and jointly developing business would be crucial for both sides.

When discussing cooperation opportunities between Europe and Zhongshan, he expressed that abundant opportunities already exist; otherwise, numerous European corporations would not have established themselves in Hong Kong and across Guangdong Province. He stated that a key direction for future development is attracting more European SMEs and startups, particularly those in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and life sciences, since the environment of the Greater Bay Area is ideal for their growth and development.

Mr. Johannes Hack, Chair of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post

When asked which part of the two-day visit impressed or surprised him the most, he replied that it's difficult to name specific items. During the visit, they not only visited Dr. Sun Yat-sen's former residence, which showcases the historical power of a man who, with his strong willingness, influenced and led an entire era, but also witnessed extraordinary engineering technology on the world-class Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel. Besides, the visit to the lighting center in Guzhen Town demonstrated the vitality of industrial innovation. He believed the trip was a perfect combination of history, culture, engineering, and modern industry.

Regarding how to promote Zhongshan and the Greater Bay Area to his European friends, Mr. Hack emphasized the key role Hong Kong plays in the regional development. He said that, through Hong Kong, the European Chamber of Commerce has been working hard to let more Europeans have a deeper understanding of the concept of the Greater Bay Area, including the roles that the nine Mainland cities, Hong Kong, and Macau play in the development. Considering the fame of the Greater Bay Area in Europe still needs to be improved at present, the Chamber will continue to conduct the related publicity to its European partners.

Mr. Augustus Tang, a Director of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Augustus Tang, a Director of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited, said that what impressed him most about the visit was the high-quality work done by the Zhongshan Municipal People's Government in terms of business environment and social management. Although the trip lasted only two days, Zhongshan left a highly professional and welcoming impression on him, making him want to adopt such an opportunity to express his gratitude to the municipal government.

When discussing cooperation opportunities between Zhongshan and Hong Kong, he said that Zhongshan's development offers a valuable model for other cities in the Greater Bay Area, for its remarkable achievements in upgrading traditional industries and cultivating emerging ones. With the increasingly close ties among cities in the Greater Bay Area, future business opportunities will be limitless.

He also emphasized that Hong Kong can play a vital bridging role in promoting the development of the Great Bay Area. As an international financial, shipping, and trade hub, Hong Kong possesses extensive experience and a global network in professional services, financing, risk management, and internationalization, which can help the enterprises in Zhongshan better "go global" while also facilitating foreign investment into Zhongshan, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

The group photo of the delegation, Photo by Bastille Post

Regarding the impact of the Middle East situation on the global energy landscape, he stated that the war in the Middle East is miserable, bringing a negative effect on human civilization and the global economy. Oil prices have already risen, putting pressure on economic activity, people's livelihoods, and inflation in many countries and regions. He expressed hope that the conflict could be resolved soon, restoring peace and stability to the region.

Moreover, he stated that over the past two days, he was impressed by Zhongshan's favorable business environment and the warm welcome from the municipal government and citizens to foreign investors. He believed that the business representatives who accompanied him on this trip would carefully consider cooperation opportunities with Zhongshan upon returning home.