Guangzhou pledges to safeguard Cantonese in new government plan

Guangzhou's mayor has officially committed to protecting the Cantonese language, identifying it as a vital component of the region's cultural heritage in a government work report delivered on Monday. 

The announcement was a key cultural highlight in a broader plan that also detailed ambitious goals for the city's role in the Greater Bay Area.

During the opening of the 6th session of the 16th Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress, Mayor Sun Zhiyang outlined his administration's priorities. 

The report stressed the importance of preserving Cantonese as the "living carrier of Guangfu culture." This initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance the city's status as a national historical and cultural center, which includes promoting traditional arts like Cantonese opera.

The government aims to use the broader Lingnan culture as a significant link for overseas Chinese to strengthen their connection to their cultural identity.

Alongside cultural preservation, the city plans to foster synergy between its cultural and commercial sectors, aiming to better integrate culture with business, tourism, and sports. 

The report also highlighted Guangzhou's ambition to grow as a major hub for international exchange.

Furthermore, the work report laid out a strategy for creating new advantages within the Greater Bay Area project. 

Sun emphasized leveraging the Nansha district as a strategic focal point to advance comprehensive cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. 

The overarching goal is to help build a dynamic and internationally competitive first-class Bay Area and world-class city cluster. 

To achieve this, the plan calls for accelerating the joint development of a comprehensive national science center, a high-level talent hub, and an international financial hub.