Throughout China's foreign trade history, Guangdong has taken the lead, leveraging its geographical and historical advantages to foster centuries of engagement with the world. On October 15th, the exhibition titled "Shared Prosperity: A Millennium of Guangdong's Foreign Trade" will open at the Guangdong Museum. Featuring over 200 exquisite artifacts, the exhibition aims to provide a comprehensive view of Guangdong's unique contributions to China's foreign trade systems over the past millennium.

The Maritime Trade Supervisorates, known as Shibo, emerged during the Tang Dynasty and was initially implemented in Guangzhou. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it gradually expanded to other ports along China's southeastern coast. The "Guangzhou Shibo Regulations" enacted in the Song Dynasty became a nationwide legal framework governing international trade.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Shibosi (maritime trade office) in Guangzhou was established to manage overseas trade under the tributary system, particularly maritime trade with Southeast Asia. When the "Age of Exploration" dawned in the 15th century, Guangdong's maritime trade system became exemplary: in the 16th century, it pioneered the transition to direct trade, forming the Guangzhou–Macao trade framework; and in the 17th century, under the combined management of the Guangdong Customs and the Thirteen Hongs, and driven by the Canton System, deep exchanges in science, technology, and culture flourished, embodying the spirit of openness and mutual learning in harmonious coexistence.

Since China's reform and opening-up, Guangdong has been granted strategic authorization to implement "special policies and flexible measures," taking the lead in breaking through traditional foreign trade systems. By advancing reform and development through openness, it has unleashed market vitality and nurtured a number of internationally competitive enterprises. In the new era, Guangdong has leveraged its three pilot free trade zones—Nansha, Qianhai, and Hengqin—as platforms to explore new mechanisms for trade and investment facilitation. It has also played a vital role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, promoting institutional alignment and regional synergy. From pilot region to national model, Guangdong has not only maintained its long-standing position as China's top foreign trade province but has also contributed the invaluable "Guangdong's experience" to China's pursuit of high-standard opening-up.

在粤博与文物相约“互利天下：广东外贸一千年”

在中国外贸史上，广东如先行之舟凭借地理与历史优势，书写与世界交往的恒久篇章。10月15日，“互利天下：广东外贸一千年大展”将在广东省博物馆启幕。展览甄选逾200件（套）精品文物，力求系统展现一千年来广东对外贸易制度的独特贡献。

专门针对海外贸易的市舶制度在唐代出现，这一制度起初主要在广州施行，到了宋元时期，便逐步推广至东南沿海的各个港口。宋代颁行的《广州市舶条法》，更成为全国性贸易法规。

明代设立广州市舶司，以朝贡体系统辖南海贸易。当十五世纪大航海时代来临，广东海外贸易制度尤具有典范作用：十六世纪率先转型允许直接贸易，形成广州－澳门体系；十七世纪在粤海关与十三行相结合的管理制度及“一口通商”政策推动下，中外科技文化深度交融，彰显出“开放”与“互鉴”的共生。

中国改革开放以来，广东凭借“特殊政策、灵活措施”的战略授权，率先突破传统外贸体制，践行“以开放促改革、促发展”的路径，极大地激发市场活力，培育了一批具有国际竞争力的企业。进入新时代，以南沙、前海、横琴三大自贸片区为平台，积极探索贸易与投资便利化新机制，并深度参与粤港澳大湾区建设,推动规则衔接与区域协同。从“先行先试”到“引领示范”，广东不仅长期稳居全国外贸首位，更为中国高水平对外开放贡献了宝贵的“广东经验”。

文、图 | 记者 何文涛 朱绍杰 通讯员 粤博宣
译丨曾敏
英文审校丨林佳岱