Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

WHILE the past narrative of Shenzhen offers rich ground for fascinating stories to many people, a delegation of 16 ambassadors and diplomats to China are intrigued by what is currently happening in Shenzhen and how sustainable infrastructure and smart technologies will shape the city’s future.

From Monday to today, ambassadors and diplomats from 12 countries including Austria, Finland, Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Honduras are on a tour of Shenzhen to gain a better understanding of the city’s achievements in new energy and smart transportation, and explore cooperation potential in these fields.

The itinerary includes visits to Shenzhen enterprises such as Tencent, BYD and lithium- ion battery material supplier BTR (Better Our World), a light show, a drone performance, a policy briefing on new energy and smart transportation industries under the theme of “Embrace a Green and Digital Future in Shenzhen,” and visits to the Nanshan energy ecological park and the Futian mangrove nature reserve.

“I was told before: If you want to see the past [of China], go to Beijing; if you want to see the present, go to Shanghai; if you want to see the future, go to Shenzhen,” Salvador Moncada, ambassador of Honduras to China, told Shenzhen Daily on Tuesday.

“What impressed me the most  is the way these companies are growing, contributing and innovating,” Moncada added.

“What I feel about Shenzhen is that it breathes the future,” Roland Reiland, ambassador of Luxembourg to China, said with great admiration. “It is very interesting for me to find out a bit more what is going on in Shenzhen, and how we can better connect Shenzhen with Luxembourg to promote the development of Luxembourg.”

Reiland said he was wowed by the new materials showcased at BTR’s research institute during the tour.

“They study new materials for the future, which is exactly what we are looking for,” Reiland said.

Andreas Riecken, Austrian ambassador to China, said it is very impressive to hear, witness and learn about Shenzhen, especially the size of the companies, the work they are doing, and the products they are developing.

Lorenzo Jaime, commercial counselor of the Consulate General of Spain in Guangzhou, was impressed during a visit to BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and power batteries, in Pingshan District on Tuesday.

According to Jaime, the technology is more amazing than the cars themselves. “Shenzhen is a city of the future, and in a sense, most cities in the world will follow Shenzhen’s development path,” Jaime said.

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 “BYD is a leading enterprise in the field of electric vehicles. I hope Japanese companies can catch up with this development trend for carbon neutrality goals,” Ueno Asako, minister from the Embassy of Japan in China, said.

 At the policy briefing on new energy and smart transportation industries, multiple Shenzhen government departments presented the city’s advantages and achievements in their relevant fields. 

 Many foreign ambassadors to China actively asked questions, showing keen interest in Shenzhen’s smart transportation and green development.

 “We have seen the rapid development of Shenzhen over the past 40 years. We want to see if there are some opportunities for us to cooperate. In Finland, we are very interested in green transition, energy issues, and circular economy,” Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Finnish ambassador to China, said.