From January 9 to 10, the Fourth ASEAN International Rail Transit Summit, hosted by the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC), was held grandly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ma Ming, Deputy Director General of the Design Institute, led a delegation including Song Jiawen, Chen Baiqian, Yang Yifu, and Lin Haoyang from the Overseas Business Department to make an appearance at the summit.

Themed "Technology Without Borders, Connectivity Without Obstacles," this summit focused on technological innovation in rail transit, regional connectivity, and win-win cooperation within the ASEAN region. During the two-day forum, our institute engaged in exchanges with various organizations including the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC), the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia (MOT), the Urban Planning Department of Malaysia, the International Union of Railways, Singapore's MRT, Jakarta MRT, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Authority of Vietnam, and Korea Railroad Corporation. In-depth discussions were held on topics of mutual interest such as urban planning, rail transit design, system upgrades and improvements, smart digitalization, metro protection, and TOD development. This visit strengthened our institute's collaboration with ASEAN countries, showcased the design institute's outstanding track record and technological achievements over the past 30 years, and received high recognition from clients and partners.

During the exhibition, our institute was invited by the host organization, the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC), for a separate business meeting. In the meeting with Deputy Director General Ma Ming and delegation members, Association Chairman Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman stated that Guangzhou Metro and the design institute are highly renowned. He warmly welcomed the design institute, a company with over 30 years of extensive experience in rail transit design and consulting, to contribute to the development of Southeast Asian countries. The Chairman expressed full affirmation of the design institute's accomplishments and performance, hoping that the institute would continue to be active in the ASEAN rail transit market, deepen exchanges with the association, and actively cooperate on projects in Malaysia and other ASEAN countries. Deputy Director General Ma Ming expressed his pleasure in contributing to the construction and development of ASEAN countries and looked forward to more cooperation opportunities between the design institute and the association, actively advancing the implementation of projects and collaborations in related fields.

The design institute emerged as the only participating organization invited by the host association for a dedicated business meeting at the summit. The association's high regard for the institute attracted significant attention from other attendees, quickly establishing the design institute as the most prominent company at the event. This recognition at the ASEAN rail transit exhibition affirms the institute's strategic focus on deepening its presence in the Southeast Asian market, guided by the Guangzhou Metro Group's principle of "comprehensive 'whole-vessel' going global."

At the summit's technology forum, Song Jiawen, Deputy Head of the Overseas Business Department, delivered a keynote speech titled "Dedicated to Comprehensive Rail Transit Services, Driving High-Quality Development of Overseas Projects." The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the design institute's development history and corporate culture, highlighting its advanced technologies in areas such as planning, design, renovation, enhancement, and intelligent systems. It fully demonstrated the institute's exceptional capability to provide integrated, full-life-cycle rail transit consulting and design services—covering planning, design, construction, operation, renovation, enhancement, intelligence, and commercial development—for projects in Southeast Asia and worldwide.

At the concluding 2025 Asia Rail Awards ceremony of the forum, the design institute was honored with the "2025 ASEAN Rail Transit Industry Outstanding Contribution Enterprise Award."

The design institute's presence at the ASEAN International Rail Transit Summit amply demonstrated its robust scientific research strength and innovative capabilities. The high level of attention it garnered during the event reflects the initial results achieved by the Overseas Business Department through its early cultivation of the ASEAN market, supported by the group and the institute's leadership. This has further solidified the department's resolve to expand and strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia. Against the backdrop of the rapid development of the global rail industry and increasingly fierce international competition, it has become an inevitable trend for domestic rail transit enterprises to "go global." Overseas markets not only offer broader potential for business growth but also hold limitless possibilities for technological collaboration, resource integration, and brand enhancement. Precisely connecting with international clients, gaining an in-depth understanding of target markets, and staying attuned to industry trends have become critical challenges for our institute on its path toward internationalization.