A delegation led by the Shantou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office visited the Consulates General of Laos and Malaysia in Guangzhou, with representatives of the Association participating to promote Shantou’s textile and garment industry.

2025-07-26 15:37:42

To fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and its Third Plenary Session, and to steadfastly advance Shantou’s "industry-city strategy" , a delegation led by Li Hongzhao (Director of Shantou Foreign Affairs Office and Administrator of Foreign Affairs Bureau) visited the Consulates General of Laos and Malaysia in Guangzhou on September 2. The mission aimed to propel Shantou’s textile and garment industry clusters toward global expansion and assist enterprises in accessing Southeast Asian markets. Association Vice Presidents Zhang Jiaqin and Chen Jiadong, alongside Secretary-General Yu Shaofen, joined the delegation to promote Shantou’s textile sector and lay groundwork for global buyer invitations to the 4th Chaoshan Apparel Expo.

The delegation sequentially met with Vandy Sisouphanh , Consul General of Laos, and Ms. Sulaiyah , Consul General of Malaysia, in Guangzhou. Director Li Hongzhao presented Shantou's latest socio-economic developments and proposed leveraging this visit to enhance economic-trade exchanges between Shantou and enterprises from Laos and Malaysia. Both consuls general committed to collaborating with the Shantou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office in providing supportive infrastructure for advancing and connecting the textile industries between their respective regions.

Visiting Consulate General of Laos in Guangzhou

At the Consulate General of Laos in Guangzhou, Vice President Chen Jiadong presented the latest developments and future prospects of Shantou’s textile and garment industry. Association representatives expressed gratitude to Consul General Vandy Sisouphanh for her support of the 3rd Chaoshan Apparel Expo and extended an invitation for Lao buyers to participate in sourcing at the 4th Expo. They further proposed enhancing connectivity with Lao textile industry associations through the Consulate, facilitating enterprise exchanges and collaboration between the two regions. Additionally, the delegation expressed interest in leveraging Laos’ labor resources and geographical advantages to jointly establish re-export hubs and textile processing bases.

Consul General Vandy Sisouphanh expressed sincere appreciation for the Shantou delegation's visit. She noted that during her attendance at the Chaoshan Apparel Expo this March, she met with the Mayor but regrettably could not complete all scheduled activities or deeply explore Shantou's historical and cultural heritage due to time constraints. She emphasized that this meeting serves not only as a bridge fostering official ties between the Consulate and Shantou City but also as a promising start for connecting Lao and Shantou enterprises. The Consulate will actively promote bilateral cooperation in commerce, tourism, scientific education, and cultural exchanges, while providing support to foreign investors to ensure mutually beneficial trade outcomes.

Visiting the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou

At the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, Vice President Chen Jiadong presented the latest developments and future prospects of Shantou’s textile and garment industry. The Association proposed establishing institutional linkages with Malaysian professional markets, exhibition organizers, and trade associations through the Consulate to create dedicated platforms for supply chain integration between enterprises. Malaysian brands and buyers were formally invited to participate in sourcing activities in Shantou. Regarding cross-border e-commerce, the delegation sought deeper insights into local market trends and bilateral trade facilitation policies to empower enterprises in global market expansion.

At the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, Trade Consul Harris introduced Malaysia’s economic landscape and export advantages, expressing strong interest in collaborating with Shantou across multiple sectors—including digital technology, ICT, telecommunications, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing and technology—to jointly build future prosperity.