Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province, with a population of more than 18 million, and serves as one of southern China's leading centres for economic activity, international trade, manufacturing, and services. The city is also a core metropolis within the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. Guangzhou possesses one of the largest urban economies in China, supported by a strong foundation in finance and advanced manufacturing. Its key industries include international trade, high technology, automotive manufacturing, and professional services. In recent years, Guangzhou has further strengthened its position as an innovation-driven global city by advancing cross-border e-commerce, enhancing industrial supply chains, and accelerating comprehensive digital transformation.
Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City) and Guangzhou Knowledge City during the official visit of the high-level delegation of Ho Chi Minh City to China - Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Portal
A key highlight of cooperation between the two cities has been the steady expansion of practical collaboration, building upon their shared roles as major economic centres and leading gateways for trade in their respective countries. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Guangzhou has consistently been identified as one of Ho Chi Minh City's key strategic partners in China, providing a solid foundation for local government exchanges, trade promotion activities, and business cooperation. In recent years, the partnership has continued to deepen through initiatives that facilitate connections between business communities, promote the exchange of experience in smart urban governance, and strengthen participation in regional and global value chains.
Looking ahead, particularly within the framework of the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD 2026), Ho Chi Minh City seeks to further expand cooperation with Guangzhou and encourage investment, technology transfer, and the sharing of management expertise in the following five priority areas:
1. International Trade and Logistics: Strengthen the flow of goods between the two cities by enhancing supply chain connectivity, promoting modern logistics services, facilitating trade fairs and exhibitions, and expanding cooperation in international logistics.
2. Supporting Industries and Advanced Manufacturing: Promote business-to-business partnerships in industrial components, advanced materials, machinery and equipment, automotive technologies, and supporting industries.
3. E-commerce and the Digital Economy: Expand cooperation in developing digital platforms, strengthening logistics infrastructure for e-commerce, and accelerating digital transformation across businesses and industries.
4. Smart Urban Planning and Development: Exchange best practices in metropolitan governance, intelligent transport systems, digital public services, and the effective use of urban data to support smart city development.
5. Tourism and Local Exchanges: Enhance destination promotion, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and foster closer cooperation between tourism enterprises and travel agencies in both cities.