Meng Fanli, deputy secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and governor of Guangdong province, met with Poul Weihrauch, CEO and president of Mars Inc of the United States, and his entourage in Guangzhou on March 26.

Meng extended a warm welcome to the delegation, saying that Mars, a world-renowned enterprise in the fields of snacks and pet care, has nurtured a long-standing and fruitful cooperation with Guangdong over the past 37 years. Home to well-known brands such as Dove, Doublemint, Extra and Snickers, the company has rooted itself deeply in the Chinese and Guangdong markets, bringing mutual benefits to both sides.

Highlighting Guangdong's status as a major province in economy, population and consumption, Meng said the province is striving to make a good start for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, which offers broad prospects for enhanced cooperation with Mars.

He expressed hope that Mars would further expand its business in Guangdong, adding the provincial government would spare no effort to build a world-class business environment featuring marketization, the rule of law and internationalization, and provide better services for the company's development.

In response, Weihrauch thanked Guangdong for its strong support for Mars' development. He said Guangdong has always been a strategic priority for the company's investment in China, and Mars has achieved remarkable growth alongside the province's economic progress.

He added that Mars will further expand its business in Guangdong in the future, striving to provide more diverse products, services and experiences for local consumers.