On September 26, the 21st China-ASEAN Expo 2024, themed “Overseas Chinese Gather at the Expo, Intelligence Unites in the South,” took place in Chongzuo City, Guangxi. The event brought together around 270 participants, including representatives from Guangxi’s relevant departments, overseas Chinese business leaders, and representatives from various overseas Chinese enterprises. They gathered to discuss friendship, collaboration, and a collective vision for the future.

During the expo, a total of 24 projects were signed, amounting to nearly 9 billion yuan in investment. These projects covered a range of industries, including high-end metal materials, food processing, modern agriculture, machinery manufacturing, and biomedicine.

Chongzuo Party Committee Secretary Lan Xiao emphasized the city’s unwavering commitment to attracting investment as a top priority. He noted that in light of new opportunities for revitalization and development, Chongzuo aims to draw in more manufacturing industries, particularly in electronic manufacturing, agricultural product processing, low-carbon initiatives, and high-tech projects. Lan stressed Chongzuo’s strategic position as a gateway to ASEAN, showcasing its modern image as a green, smart, and livable city.

Lan further invited overseas Chinese business leaders to explore Chongzuo’s advantages in terms of location, industry, and talent. He encouraged deep collaboration that would drive economic growth. Additionally, he assured attendees that Chongzuo would continuously improve its systems, innovate service methods, and create a more efficient and cost-effective cooperative platform, ensuring that entrepreneurs feel secure and comfortable investing in the city.

Chen Jiefeng, the Vice Chairperson of the China Overseas Friendship Association and Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Overseas Chinese Federation, highlighted Guangxi as a pivotal region for overseas Chinese. She portrayed Chongzuo as a groundbreaking city in China’s outreach to ASEAN, emphasizing its critical role as a key node in the new Western Land-Sea Corridor and as the most convenient land passage to ASEAN countries. Chen mentioned the significant advancements Chongzuo has made in recent years to adapt to new development patterns, underscoring the essential role of overseas Chinese in driving high-quality economic growth in the region.

She urged the overseas Chinese community to seize opportunities and leverage their unique advantages—such as broad perspectives and a deep understanding of international markets—to attract more investments, projects, and brands to Guangxi and Chongzuo. Chen reiterated the Overseas Chinese Federation’s commitment to aligning with broader goals and local needs, working closely with local departments to create a conducive environment for healthy development and providing thoughtful assistance.

The meeting also featured presentations from the Chongzuo Municipal Government, the Management Committee of the Chongzuo High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, the Management Committee of the Chongzuo Air Economic Collaborative Zone, and the Organizing Committee of the Pingxiang Industrial Park, all aimed at promoting investment opportunities in the area.