The manufacturing industry is regarded as the foundation of Dongguan, and has made sure the city is well known around the world. Focusing on the development of sci-tech innovation and manufacturing industry, Dongguan will make an effort to participate in the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) by taking advantage of its current industrial and technological bases.

Xiao Biliang, Deputy Director-General of the Development and Reform Bureau of Dongguan Municipal Government, Executive Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Affairs Office of Dongguan Municipal Government [Photo by Lufei]

These remarks were delivered by Xiao Biliang, Deputy Director-General of the Development and Reform Bureau of Dongguan Municipal Government, Executive Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Affairs Office of Dongguan Municipal Government, in an exclusive interview with Southcn.com and Newsgd.com, sharing his opinion on Dongguan's role and future plans regarding the development of the GBA.

After the signing of the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area in 2017, Dongguan is striving to build an advanced manufacturing center in the GBA, by enhancing the transformation of innovative sci-tech, and expanding opening-up and cooperation.

The city has played a key role in the construction of the International Sci-tech Innovation Center in the GBA and it has launched a number of policies to support innovative development.

In regards to the construction of a modern industrial system and infrastructure facilities, Dongguan has accelerated the construction of an advanced manufacturing center for the GBA, held a joint conference on industrial cooperation in Hong Kong and has constructed a station in the Chang'an New District for the Shenzhen-Maoming railway.

Building an advanced manufacturing center for the GBA

Nancheng District of Dongguan. [Photo provided to newsgd.com]

As a city renowned for manufacturing, there are more than 157,000 industrial enterprises in the city, Xiao indicated.

In order to build a world-class advanced manufacturing industrial cluster, Dongguan has laid out the following plan.

Firstly, the citywill further support the construction of the International Sci-tech Innovation Center in the GBA, through technological innovation, research transformation and foster more sci-tech companies.

The city will also set up a special investment promotion bureau to attract global investment in ten key emerging industries including a new generation of IT, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, new energy, life sciences and biotechnology, a new generation of AI and high-end medical devices.

Additionally, it will encourage enterprises to accelerate technological transformation and promote the integration of next-generation IT with the city's manufacturing industry, making the industry more digital and intelligent.

Promoting the construction of Chang'an New District for Dongguan-Hong Kong cooperation

Xiao explained that the Chang'an New District in Dongguan is well situated connecting with western Shenzhen, with a total area of 83.2 square kilometers. It is a promising area on the east bank of the Pearl River Estuary.

The new area has signed a series of cooperation framework agreements with well-known associations, enterprises and research institutions such as the Belt and Road Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Macao. Furthermore, it saw a number of projects begin construction such as the OPPO Intelligent Manufacturing Center, Humen Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

In future, Dongguan will promote the planning and construction of the new area to a high standard, to further its cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao.

The city will launch more supporting policies for the employment and entrepreneurship of young professionals from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, in order to attract them to the region.

The city will invite Hong Kong MTR Corporation to participate in the construction of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project at Binhai Bay Station.

To attract service industries from Hong Kong and Macao, it plans to expand cooperation in the fields of finance, medical care, law, accounting and education.

Meanwhile, public services will be improved with a high-quality public service system covering education, medical care, and social security. It will improve policy measures to attract Hong Kong and Macao residents to study, work, and live in Dongguan.

Supervisor: Liu Jianneng, Hu Zhiyong

Planning: Jiang Qiang, Tang Lina, Zhang Ying, He Jingwen

Reporters:Liu Jianneng, Jin Yanming, Zhang Chenping, Guo Wenjun, Hu Nan, Wei Shen

Video: Zhang Chenping, Lu Fei

Photography: Lu Fei

Script: Lu Fei

Film-editor: Zhang Qida

English Editor: Wing Zhang, Simon Haywood