On March 7th, during a group meeting of deputies from the delegation of Guangdong province at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, Liao Zhilue, a deputy to the National People's Congress, shared a special experience with Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying: an Ecuadorian student had planted a Huajuhong (dried peel of Huazhou pomelo) "International Tree" in Maoming. Liao said, "He hopes his relatives and friends back in his hometown,far away in South America, can use Huajuhong. And our dream is to make Huajuhong known to the whole world.”

The story originated from an interview by the Yangcheng Evening News. Ahead of China's 2026 annual "two sessions", the newspaper's "iSeeChina" column invited Ecuadorian student He Peilin (David Cobo) to visit Huazhou in Maoming and meet with Liao Zhilue, a deputy to the National People's Congressand president of the Maoming Huazhou Peilin Juhong Planting Professional Cooperative.

In February this year, David followed reporters from Yangcheng Evening News to Huazhou in Maoming for a joint interview with Liao Zhilue. Liao showed him around the Huajuhong Ancient Tribute Orchard and introduced the main medicinal effects of Huajuhong. David also tasted a variety of Huajuhong products, including Huajuhong tea, throat lozenges, and Huajuhong beer. Before the interview concluded, Liao invited him to plant a Huajuhong "International Tree" together.

Upon learning that his story had been shared at China's"two sessions", David was pleasantly surprised: "Oh my God, this is truly an honor for me."

At present, Huajuhong is used in more than 30 countries and regions around the world. Since last year, Huajuhong products from Maoming have officially entered the Middle East market. "This March, we will also bring Huajuhong to participate in a French agricultural exhibition," Liao said.

羊城晚报促成的化橘红佳话，被代表讲给了华春莹

3月7日，在十四届全国人大四次会议广东代表团小组会议上，全国人大代表廖志略向外交部副部长华春莹分享了一段特别的经历：有一位来自厄瓜多尔的留学生，在茂名种下了一棵化橘红“国际树”。廖志略说：“他希望远在南美的家乡亲友能用上化橘红。而我们的梦想，就是让全世界认识化橘红。”

这段故事，起源于羊城晚报的一次采访。全国两会前夕，羊城晚报“iSeeChina”栏目邀请厄瓜多尔留学生贺沛霖（David）走进茂名化州，拜访全国人大代表、化州市培林橘红种植专业合作社社长廖志略。

今年2月，贺沛霖跟随羊城晚报记者来到茂名化州共同采访廖志略。廖志略带他参观了化橘红古树贡园，并介绍化橘红的主要功效。贺沛霖还品尝了化橘红茶、润喉糖、橘红啤酒等产品。采访结束前，廖志略邀请贺沛霖共同种下化橘红“国际树”。

得知自己的故事被带上全国两会，贺沛霖十分惊喜：“天啊，这对我来说真的是一种荣幸。”

目前全球已有30多个国家和地区在使用化橘红。从去年开始，茂名化橘红产品正式进入中东市场。“今年3月，我们还将带着化橘红参加法国农产品展。”廖志略说。

文｜刘泳希 赵鹏
视频｜梁喻 刘泳希 柳卓楠 曾育文 黎杰文 温泽广
翻译 | 郑书悦
英文审校 | 肖凯欣