Deng Hong, deputy director of Information Office of People’s Government of Guangdong Province speaks with media on Dec 30. [Photo by Imran Ali/inp.net.pk]

A group of reporters from media outlets of countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) gathered in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on Dec 30, 2019, to cover China's achievements in BRI construction and Guangdong's leading role in the national initiative.

After more than six years of hard work, China's BRI construction has made steady progress and achieved remarkable things, said Deng Hong, deputy director of Information Office of People's Government of Guangdong Province, while he was briefing the media group.

By strengthening communication with the mainstream media of the countries along the Belt and Road, Guangdong's foreign trade enterprises and advanced technologies have been effectively promoted, he added.

Deng also told the gathered media that, located at the southernmost tip of the Chinese mainland, Guangdong is a major economic and trade and opening-up province for the country.

It is the birthplace of the Maritime Silk Road and the pioneer of China's reform and opening-up. In 2018, the provincial GDP reached $1.47 trillion, accounting for 10.8 percent of the national GDP, ranking first in China for 30 consecutive years. With a permanent population of 113 million and a per capita GDP of $13,000, the province also realized a total value of foreign trade exceeding $1 trillion, accounting for about a quarter of China's total.

At present, Guangdong province is promoting the in-depth integration of media development, and is striving to create a new mainstream media. "We hope to strengthen communication and exchanges with friends from the media present here, promote media exchanges and cooperation, and make the Belt and Road Initiative more fruitful", noted Deng.