Quanzhou Network, July 3

　　(Integrated Media Reporter: Wang Yujing; Correspondent: Ye Guanqing)

　　A joint delegation organized by the Quanzhou Gastronomy Industry Promotion Association and Quanzhou Master Chefs Association recently paid a study visit to Shunde District, Foshan City to attend a grand gastronomy summit. Food acts as a bridge to boost industrial exchanges and mutual learning between Fujian and Guangdong provinces. The two regions are striving to open a new chapter of coordinated development as two UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy.

　　Hosted under the theme Global Flavors, New Journeys, the gastronomy summit in Shunde gathered industry elites and catering association representatives from renowned food cities across China to discuss joint development plans.

　　A landmark launching ceremony for China's seven UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy was held alongside the summit. The seven participating cities include Quanzhou, Shunde, Chengdu, Macao, Yangzhou, Huai'an and Chaozhou. Drawing on their unique cultural resources and industrial strengths, these cities reached extensive consensus on inheriting and innovating Chinese culinary culture. All participants agreed to break regional development barriers and abide by the principles of open collaboration and mutual benefit. Long-term, comprehensive and in-depth strategic cooperation will be carried out across key sectors: innovative research and development of signature dishes, systematic training for professional catering talent teams, integrated development of gastronomy, culture and tourism, branding of regional featured catering businesses, and standardized construction for the entire catering industry. The seven cities will jointly preserve the heritage of Chinese culinary culture, steadily upgrade the quality of regional cuisines, and promote the nationwide and global spread of traditional Chinese food culture.

　　Taking this high-level industry exchange opportunity, the Quanzhou Gastronomy Industry Promotion Association conducted in-depth negotiations with the Shunde Catering Association of Foshan. The two sides formally reached a letter of intent to build regular, long-term collaborative ties. They plan to carry out a series of ongoing activities such as reciprocal exchange visits, academic study tours, culinary skill contests and joint food expos. Both parties will fully explore the distinctive culinary cultures of the two places and revitalize high-quality catering resources. They aim to realize experience sharing, tourist source interchange, joint brand promotion and interconnected catering markets. Complementary strengths will advance deeper industrial coordination, and resource sharing will achieve mutual benefits. The two sides will build a stable, pragmatic and efficient strategic cooperation bond linking the gastronomy industries of Fujian and Guangdong.

　　As an established UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Shunde boasts mature experience and outstanding achievements in industrialized catering operation, inheritance of intangible cultural heritage food, incubation of catering chain brands and integrated gastronomy development. During the field study tour, the Quanzhou delegation learned from Shunde's advanced operation modes, brand building strategies and standardized industrial development experience. By benchmarking this leading city to identify development gaps and leveraging local strengths to remedy weaknesses, Quanzhou will further expand the development layout of its gastronomy sector and clarify the upgrading roadmap for local catering businesses.

　　Endowed with profound Maritime Silk Road culinary heritage, Quanzhou features exclusive Minnan flavors and a wide variety of traditional snacks. This cross-regional exchange and study is a practical measure for Quanzhou to learn from advanced counterparts and improve its internal operational strength. It also offers a vital chance for Quanzhou's local cuisine to expand beyond Fujian and connect with nationwide markets.

　　Going forward, Quanzhou's catering sector will sustain regular exchanges and collaboration with all other Chinese Cities of Gastronomy under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to keep expanding its cross-regional cooperation network. Rooted in local intangible culinary heritage, the city will press ahead with the inheritance and innovative development of Minnan characteristic cuisine. It will further strengthen core local culinary IPs including braised pork trotter specialties and classic Minnan snacks, and deepen the integration of gastronomy with commercial trade and the night-time economy. Synergy gathered via cross-regional linkage and premium brands forged through dedicated culinary craftsmanship will continuously lift the national and international reputation, influence and industrialization level of Quanzhou's food industry. The city will endeavor to realize high-quality integrated development across its whole gastronomy industrial chain.