On May 19, a delegation of media outlets from 25 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries arrived in South China's Guangzhou, the first stop of their trip in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The visit incorporates various locations mainly in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen. The delegation seeks to witness multiple facets of a modernized China, and foster closer ties between China and CEE countries.

Fresh off the flight, the delegation arrived at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum tucked inside the historic Yongqing Fang in Guangzhou. The delegation was introduced to the legendary Cantonese opera and how the art is well-preserved to this date.

Denisa Petrilakova, a Czech journalist from General News, expressed her interest in exploring cultural diversity on this trip in an interview with GDToday. "I have been to Asia many times, but it's completely my first time in the South of China. The costumes are very different from those designed for the Beijing Opera," she said. She was also much intrigued by the aesthetics in Lingnan architecture. "The architecture is really beautiful here. I like the roofs and all the shadow and light."

Stojan Trpchevski, a journalist at MPT from North Macedonia, said that he wishes to see closer bilateral relations between China and his home country. "I know many things about China because I have met many times with the Chinese ambassador to North Macedonia, Zhang Zuo," he said. Never been to China before, Stojan felt highly curious to find out about the economy and culture in China and hopes to find common ground between the two sides that breeds more cooperation.

This morning, the delegation travelled to the Nansha District of Guangzhou. Next, they will travel to the cities of Zhuhai and Shenzhen for more discovery.