GUOGANG GROUP
To deepen international cooperation with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and ensure the smooth progress of exchange activities, on September 26, Mr. Li Mingyu, Deputy Minister of the International Trade Department, and Mr. Zhou Houwen, Head of the Action Team of the External Liaison and Commerce Department of Shandong Guogang Commerce Group, arrived at Qingdao North Station in advance. They not only meticulously reviewed the arrival procedures and confirmed personnel reception details but also specially prepared bouquets of flowers symbolizing friendship and welcome, fully undertaking the responsibility for receiving Mary and her delegation. When Mary and her party successfully exited the arrival gate, Li Mingyu and Zhou Houwen immediately stepped forward, presented the flowers with both hands, extended warm greetings, and warmly commenced this transoceanic exchange with their thoughtful service.
On September 28, Shandong Guogang Commerce Group invited Counsellor Mary and her delegation for a day-long visit, inspection, and cooperation talks with high-standard arrangements. Accompanied throughout by Director Gao Yuan of the Group, Counsellor Mary visited the International Trade Department, the External Liaison and Commerce Department, and the Corporate Communications Department, gaining a detailed understanding of Shandong Guogang's core strengths and development plans in areas such as cross-border trade, logistics and warehousing, and brand operation. During the tour, Counsellor Mary periodically paused to inquire about business details and expressed high appreciation for the company's standardized operations and forward-looking layout.
Following the tour, both parties moved to the company's conference room for in-depth discussions. At the meeting, Director Gao Yuan first introduced the company's recent business expansion achievements and future directions for international cooperation. Counsellor Mary, drawing on her experience, shared the market demands and trade opportunities in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She clearly stated that this on-site inspection provided her with a more intuitive understanding of Shandong Guogang's capabilities and expressed plans to further expand the scale of cooperation in areas such as agricultural product import-export and cross-border service collaboration, building upon the existing foundation. To translate the consensus into a long-term mechanism, during the talks, Director Gao Yuan, on behalf of the Group, formally presented Counsellor Mary with a letter of appointment as the "Trade Advisor of Shandong Guogang Commerce Group," while also conferring upon the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago the title of "Shandong Guogang Designated Trade Cooperation Country." This marks the entry of bilateral cooperation into a new stage characterized by standardization and long-term effectiveness.
As the meeting drew to a close, it coincided with Counsellor Mary's birthday. Shandong Guogang specially prepared a birthday cake for her. As the candlelight was slowly lit, the melodious tune of "Happy Birthday" resonated throughout the venue, instantly enveloping the room in a warm atmosphere. Deeply moved by this unexpected surprise, Counsellor Mary remarked that her visit not only achieved consensus on cooperation but also allowed her to experience the humanistic care of Shandong Guogang, adding stronger emotional bonds to the subsequent collaboration between the two parties.
This cross-border business interaction represents not only a precise alignment at the corporate level but has also successfully established a solid bridge for trade exchanges between Shandong and Trinidad and Tobago at the non-governmental level. It provides a concrete pathway for economic and trade exchanges at the sub-national level between the two countries and injects practical, long-term impetus into deepening bilateral friendly relations, playing a positive role in promoting these ends.
