China News Service, Guangzhou, November 5 (Reporter Cai Minjie) In the past few days, more than 10,000 new energy vehicles have loaded onto ro-ro ships at the Nansha Automobile Port of Guangzhou Port, bound for the European and Southeast Asian markets. Not far away, the fifth phase of the Nansha Port Area is under construction. Once completed, it will help Nansha Port Area's annual container throughput capacity exceed 35 million TEUs and rank among the top single port areas in the world.
From ro-ro ships to super-engineering, the Millennium Commercial Port is witnessing the vigorous pulse of Guangdong's foreign trade as a hub with access to the world.
On October 16, aerial photography was taken of Nansha Port Area of Guangzhou Port. Photo by Li Qijun
From the emergence of the Maritime Silk Road in the Han Dynasty to the "Guangzhou Sea-Barbarian Road" connecting the world in the Tang Dynasty, from the prosperous trade of the Thirteen Lines in the Qing Dynasty, to the pilot reform and opening up, to the coordinated opening of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, spanning more than two thousand years, Guangdong has always been an important window for China's foreign exchanges, and its foreign trade business network is endless.
More than two hundred years ago, lacquerware, silk, and ceramics were shipped out of Guangzhou, setting off a "Chinese wares craze" in France and other places. At that time, some foreign businessmen even shipped wooden furniture tires to Guangzhou, where they were painted and made by Guangzhou craftsmen before being shipped back, forming an early trade pattern of "global ordering, local customization".
There was even a special trade language among Chinese and foreign businessmen - "Guangzhou English", which was used for business communication such as inquiry, ordering and delivery. This open business tradition of understanding overseas needs and responding to the needs of the world continues under new historical conditions.
In 1957, the first China Export Commodities Fair opened in Guangzhou, and "Guangzhou goods" had a fixed stage facing the world. After the reform and opening up, "Pearl River Water, Guangdong Grain, Lingnan Clothing, and Guangdong Home Appliances" rapidly emerged, and Guangdong gradually became China's largest foreign trade province. From the beginning of the processing trade of "three to one supplement" to the global expansion of its own brands, Guangdong's foreign trade has completed a leap from "borrowing ships to go to sea" to "building ships to go to sea".
On October 31, operators controlled the surgical robot through an open console at the 140th Canton Fair. Photo by reporter Cai Minjie
Nowadays, the export of "Guangzhou goods" overseas is undergoing another iteration: traditional foreign trade relies more on resource endowments, handicrafts and trade channels, while new foreign trade is based on technological innovation, industrial chain collaboration, green and low-carbon and digital intelligence. In the Canton Fair exhibition hall, new energy vehicles, photovoltaic energy storage, drones, service robots, and smart home appliances have become the new protagonists of "Cantonese goods" going overseas.
Customs data outlines a clear trajectory of Guangdong’s foreign trade structure upgrading, with advanced manufacturing products gradually becoming the main engine of exports. In the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong's high-tech product exports reached 1.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 33%. Among them, exports of lithium batteries and electric vehicles increased by 38.4% and 25.5% respectively.
As one of the "Three New Things" for export, new energy vehicles have formed a relatively complete industrial chain in Guangdong including complete vehicles, power batteries, motor electronic controls, charging and swapping facilities, etc., while promoting full-chain collaboration of raw materials, production and processing, and terminal sales to enhance the industry chain's roots, safety, and international competitiveness.
On October 31, at the 140th Canton Fair, a smart hand attracted the attention of overseas buyers. Photo by reporter Chen Jimin
BYD's Hungarian factory plans to start mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026; Xpeng Motors' sales network has covered 83 countries and regions around the world, with more than 1,200 overseas stores.
"Affected by the sharp rise in energy prices, Australia is vigorously promoting new energy vehicles. We hope to cooperate with Guangdong enterprises to jointly improve the local new energy ecology." Robert, an Australian purchaser, said.
The "three old things" for export have also taken on new vitality. In terms of smart home appliances, Guangdong has formed a world-class home appliance industry cluster with Guangzhou and Shenzhen as R&D and design centers and Foshan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai as the manufacturing cores.
"In the early days, our products were single and relied mostly on overseas technology for assembly and production. After decades of technological iterations, now we have not only achieved the output of advanced technology and productivity, but also driven local employment and the optimization and upgrading of the industrial chain." Wu Bin, General Manager of the Southern Europe Region of Gree Electric Appliances International Trading Co., Ltd. said that the company relies on core technologies and independent and controllable industrial chains to calmly cope with the complex and ever-changing international trade environment.
Hundreds of years ago, merchant ships loaded with lacquerware, silk, and ceramics sailed from Guangzhou, setting off the "Chinese utensil craze" in Europe; now, more than 10,000 new energy vehicles have boarded ro-ro ships at the Nansha Automobile Port of Guangzhou Port, bound for European and Southeast Asian markets. In the same commercial port that has existed for thousands of years, the goods have changed, but the direction has not changed - Guangdong has always been connected to the world with an attitude of being accessible to the world. (over)
