The 2026 Greater Bay Area – Portuguese- and Spanish-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Exchange was held on August 7 at the China-Portuguese (Spanish) Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Service Center in Hengqin.
The event, organized by the Center, brought together consular representatives from Peru, Colombia, Spain, Mexico and Argentina, a delegate from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), and business leaders from China to discuss investment climates, industrial cooperation and market opportunities in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. A football friendly and a summer concert alongside the Tianmu River added a cultural and sporting dimension to the economic and trade agenda.
In his opening remarks, Cao Jinfeng, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Chairman of the Center's Council, highlighted Hengqin's unique position — "backed by the vast Chinese market and closely connected with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking nations." He called on all participants to "align needs precisely, advance pragmatic cooperation and create a win-win future," injecting confidence into deeper engagement with these markets.
Wu Yanxiang, Deputy Director of the Administrative and Legal Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone and Vice Chairman of the Center's Council, described the Center as China's only cross-border service platform dedicated to Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking markets, providing a full range of "going global, bringing in, and enabling" services. She expressed the Center's readiness to work with all parties to seize new opportunities in cross-border trade and investment.
Consul General of Peru in Guangzhou Jesús Raúl Ponce‑Bravo (庞赫斯), Consul General of Colombia in Guangzhou Annie Maya (安雅), Consul General of Spain in Guangzhou Emilio de Miguel Cala (艾明睿), Acting Consul General of Mexico in Guangzhou Daniel Domínguez, Commercial Consul of Argentina in Guangzhou Ana Clara Pianezza (百里安), and ApexBrasil international specialist Fan Jingyu presented their countries' investment environment and cooperation priorities, respectively. Colombia's ProColombia senior investment advisor Zhu Shuang also attended to facilitate business matching.
Emilio de Miguel Cala noted that China is Spain's largest trading partner, and bilateral cooperation is upgrading from traditional agricultural products to high-value technology, exemplified by the lithium battery plant project in Zaragoza. He said Spanish companies are less familiar with Hengqin's preferential policy advantages and called on the Center to strengthen outreach in Spain to attract more business delegations.
Daniel Domínguez highlighted the vast potential in the automotive and auto-parts sector, as Chinese brands expand rapidly in Mexico and drive a wave of Chinese investment. He praised the exchange platform and expressed hope for deeper, regular collaboration with the Center.
The event drew companies from sectors such as cross-border supply chains, digital technology, life sciences, new energy and cross-border finance. Zhou Gang, Executive General Manager of Beijing Yingshi Ruida Technology; Yang Mei, Director of the International Marketing Center of Shandong Kanghua Biotechnology and Renata Redondo Bernardi, CEO and co-founder of SleepUp, presented their business offerings.
Yang Mei told reporters that regulatory certification remains a key export barrier, as a registration in Brazil is not valid in other countries and a change of agent requires a new application procedure that may take as long as one year. Kanghua Biotechnology addressed this by embedding compliance requirements at the project definition stage, setting standards above local requirements and aligning documentation with audit norms. She said Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking markets account for nearly one-third of the company's overseas revenue. She hoped the Center would continue providing policy guidance to help companies streamline the entire export process.
The event also featured dedicated exchange sessions and panel discussions, where representatives of the Center detailed its service resources. Participants held in-depth talks on local partnerships, overseas investment, market access, regulatory compliance and industrial synergy.
Later that evening, the "Hengqin Cup" football friendly kicked off at Tianqinyuan, followed by the Greater Bay Area Portuguese-Spanish Night and Summer Concert at the Rowing Park. The cultural and sporting activities helped build trust and expand space for economic cooperation. The Center said it would build on the momentum of this event to turn dialogue into tangible projects that deliver shared benefits for all.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photos: China-Portuguese (Spanish) Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Service Center
