The foreign trade volume of the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) reached 7.22 trillion yuan (approximately 1.00 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first ten months of this year, marking an 11 percent increase year-on-year, according to customs authorities in south China's Guangdong Province.
Covering a total area of 56,000 square kilometers, the GBA consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province -- Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing. It is one of the most economically open and vibrant areas in China.
Growing 5.8 percent faster than the national foreign trade, the trade volume of the nine mainland cities accounted for 20 percent of China's total import and export volume during the same period.
Exports of industrial robots, electric vehicles, ships, and marine engineering equipment from the nine mainland cities increased by 53.3 percent, 49.2 percent, and 38.3 percent, respectively, in the first ten months of this year.
In 2023, the trade volume of the nine mainland cities reached 7.95 trillion yuan (approximately 1.11 trillion U.S. dollars), marking an increase of 0.4 percent and accounting for 19 percent of the total import and export value of the country.
Mainland cities in Greater Bay Area see foreign trade volume up 11 pct in first 10 months
China's domestically developed anti-submarine Wing Loong-X UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) made its debut on Tuesday at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.
The Wing Loong-X is currently the largest and heaviest armed reconnaissance and strike UAV in China, with a range of capabilities including long endurance and multiple payload options. It can fly for up to 40 hours and reach altitudes of 10,000 meters.
The UAV also has a quick response feature, allowing it to rapidly switch configurations and payloads based on mission needs.
"Under its wings, you can see two sets of sonar buoys and air-to-air missiles, with a torpedo hanging beneath. The customer demands it leads the world by five years, with strong detection and countering capabilities for air, land, sea, and underwater targets," said Tang Yong, UAV chief designer at Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
In addition to the Wing Loong-X, China's air force debuted two other new reconnaissance and strike UAVs, which are designed for tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions, with capabilities to carry electro-optical sensors, synthetic aperture radar, and communication reconnaissance equipment, enabling them to target fixed and moving objects on land and at sea.
The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Sunday.
China's self-developed Wing Loong-X UAV debuts at Zhuhai Airshow
