Global Mayors Dialogue: ASEAN mayors explore Nanning
Error loading player: No playable sources found

Mayors from ASEAN countries have gathered in south China's Nanning for the Global Mayors Dialogue. Chen Yuan has the story.

Heartfelt songs; Splendid performances; Interactive experiences.

Mayors and other government officials from ASEAN countries were greeted with a warm welcome in Nanning.

CHEN YUAN Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "The square is packed. Look how the city welcomes the ASEAN mayors."

As the capital of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning is showcasing Guangxi's vibrant culture, including its 11 native ethnic minority groups. And with the Spring Festival just around the corner, the mayors also joined the festive celebrations.

DATO' SRI DR. HAJI SABIN BIN SAMITAH, JP Mayor Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia "My favorite segment is the singing, and also the show, because I can see a lot of beautiful traditional clothing."

For a more immersive experience, the guests were treated to a Yong Opera performance, a local art form that dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

Reporter: Could you use one word to describe this tour?

SUPIANDI Representative Mayor Mataram, Indonesia "Amazing. (Reporter: How so?) Because I haven't seen this before. This is the first time. The performance is awesome."

Shifting from tradition to innovation, the mayors took a closer look at Nanning's role as a frontier for the cooperation between China and ASEAN.

CHEN YUAN Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "A key stop on the tour is the China-ASEAN Smart City Innovation Center, a vital hub for advancing the Digital Silk Road."

Operating since 2018, the center helps provide an ecosystem for over 50 Chinese and ASEAN companies, fostering best practices in smart city solutions.

HAY YONG Vice Mayor Siem Reap Municipality, Cambodia "This visit helps us gain more ideas about how smart cities work in China. Siem Reap is also working towards building a smart city, focusing currently on smart transportation and environmental sanitation. During our visit, we observed improvements in these areas."

Continuing the visit at the site of the annual China-ASEAN Expo, the guests voiced their vision for a more connected future.

BUNDAN SATHIRACHAWAL Deputy Governor Surat Thani, Thailand "I would like to thank Nanning for giving Thailand, especially Surat Thani Province, the opportunity to exchange knowledge. I believe that people-to-people interaction will help create prosperity in many areas. Thailand is happy to welcome our Chinese brothers and sisters."

As this quintessential Nanning tour continues until Saturday, the hope is that it will promote mutual understanding and solid progress in China-ASEAN cooperation. Chen Yuan, CGTN, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.