Journalists pose for a group photo on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). [Photo by Will] 

A media delegation consisting of over 30 journalists, including a dozen from Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, visited five Guangdong cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) between September 2nd and 6th to experience local culture and customs, and see for themselves the developmental and technological achievements of the Bay Area.

Grand projects connect the GBA

Journalists interview a staff member at the construction site of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge. [Photo by Will]

In recent years, transportation in the GBA has developed into an efficient network featuring high-speed and inter-city railways, expressways, ports and airports.

By the end of 2022, a modern integrated transportation system will have come into being. A ‘one-hour commuter ring’ will have been built, with three routes (Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Foshan, Macao-Zhuhai) at its core.

Nang Chian Ping, digital news editor of Kwong Wah Yit Poh Press Berhad, was impressed, “one can only sense the true scale and magnificence of these transit projects when on site.”

Sun Jifei, vice editor in chief of Indonesia Shang Bao, speaks highly of the recently launched Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tourism plan, “more people will be drawn to the region if the HZMB is included in the tourism resources of the three places.”

A hotbed for innovation and entrepreneurship

Sun Jifei tries on an automatic skateboard at the E Hub in Shenzhen. [Photo by Will]

The GBA is a hotbed for young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. Thanks to the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Sci-tech Innovation Corridor, the GBA is forging itself into a prime region for technological innovation.

“Shenzhen’s development is marvellous. Its efficiency, achievements in innovation, creative spirit, pragmatism and energy are very impressive,” Han Yonghong, vice editor chief of Lianhe Zaobao shared.

Sun Jifei praised a team of Hong Kong entrepreneurs for their ‘automatic skateboard’ noting its powerful functionality. He also tried out Tencent’s new payment system. Sun said that Shenzhen’s Qianhai, as part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, enjoys favorable policies and capital support, very attractive to high-technology industry investors.

Tan Dawn Wei, the China Bureau Chief of The Straits Times, paid special attention to the young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Macao in Guangdong. She believes their stories exemplify the collaboration promoted by the GBA and will encourage more young people to start their businesses on the Chinese mainland.

Diverse cultures coexisting and prospering

Journalists interview two Cantonese opera performers at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum in Guangzhou. [Photo by Will]

The GBA and Southeast Asia are neighbours, and people in both regions share similarities in terms of lifestyle and culture. Lingnan cultures such as Cantonese opera and acrobatics are very popular in Southeast Asian countries.

During the tour, the journalists visited Yongqingfang and the Cantonese Opera Art Museum in Guangzhou as well as Sun Yat-sen's former residence in Zhongshan.

Su Yi, director of the Chinese News Department of Sing Sian Yer Pao, said Thailand is one of the countries with the greatest number of overseas Chinese; in her country there are many guild halls of guilds originating from cities in Guangdong, and there they can enjoy Cantonese opera performances.

Tan Dawn Wei mentioned that Cantonese opera performances are staged at the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre in Singapore from time to time, attracting many curious eyes.

Nang Chian Ping takes photos of Sun Yat-sen’s former residence in Zhongshan. [Photo by Will]

“Kwong Wah Yit Poh has close connections to Zhongshan. Sun Yat-sen founded the newspaper in 1910 in Penang, Malaysia, and we still adhere to Sun Yat-sen’s philosophy ‘the whole world as one community’ serving the overseas Chinese community,” said Mr. Nang Chian Ping after visiting Sun Yat-sen’s former residence in Zhongshan, “I find that the city is full of vigor and has kept a balance between development and environmental protection.”

Ben Yuen Hui, a reporter for The Star of Malaysia, also said that she was very interested in history and is familiar with many of Sun Yat-sen’s stories.

Join hands to achieve win-win cooperation

To Le Minh is interviewed by the local media in Shenzhen. [Photo by Will]

The GBA will deepen its opening-up to the outside world. It will work together with Southeast Asia to achieve a better future and win-win results.

Tan Dawn Wei pointed out that the GBA’s development will bring huge opportunities to neighbouring countries and regions, especially those in Southeast Asia. She hopes everyone can find a win-win outcome.

Nang Chian Ping hopes that through their newspaper, he can arm Malaysian people with information about GBA, so that they can grasp the opportunities therein to achieve, and achieve to mutual benefit.

To Le Minh, chief reporter for the Vietnam People’s Newspaper’s Beijing Permanent Office, told our reporter that he was amazed by Qianhai’s development and believes this is a great example for his own country to follow.

Han Yonghong thinks that GBA is advancing the integrated development of technology, culture and people’s livelihoods. Singapore, along with other countries and regions in Southeast Asia, is looking forward to cooperation with the region.

Authors: Monica, Hannah

Reporters: Olivia, Nan, Huimin, Jasmine, Will

Editors: Simon, Olivia

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东南亚记者眼中的粤港澳大湾区：联通 活力 多元 共赢

采访团在港珠澳大桥东人工岛上合影。

　　登大气恢弘的港珠澳大桥，品味“一桥架三地，碧海变通途”的壮观；游日新月异的深圳前海，感受“千帆竞发，万木逢春”的创新活力；赏广东唯一世界非物质文化遗产，聆听粤剧“佳章一出动人寰”的婉转曲调……

　　9月6日，“活力湾区 世界共享”东南亚主流网络媒体湾区行联合采访活动圆满收官，来自印尼、马来西亚、新加坡、泰国、越南等东南亚国家主流网络媒体的十余位外国记者相约广东，短短5天时间内用脚步丈量粤港澳大湾区5座城市，从理解大湾区发展规划蓝图，到深入了解大湾区开发建设进度，继而探寻大湾区与东南亚国家和地区开展创新合作、实现共赢发展的更多可能性。

　　宏伟工程 联通湾区

在深中通道施工现场，采访团成员拉着工作人员仔细询问。

　　近年来，粤港澳大湾区交通布局加快“落子”，依托以高速铁路、城际铁路和高等级公路为主体的快速交通网络与港口群、机场群，加速形成高效连接的网络化空间布局。

　　预计到2022年年底，粤港澳大湾区交通基础设施支撑保障能力将得到进一步提升，高效便捷的现代综合交通体系基本形成，基本达到世界一流湾区水平。大湾区内将实现“12312交通圈”，即：以香港—深圳、广州—佛山、澳门—珠海为核心的“1小时交通圈”，湾区至粤东西北各市陆路2小时通达，至周边省会城市陆路3小时通达，与全球主要城市12小时通达。到2035年年底，全面建成现代化综合交通运输体系。

　　“大湾区的整个构想，尤其是每个城市和每个社区的连接，都有明确的目标和具体的计划，充分利用跨海大桥、高铁、机场和海港，将整个大湾区紧紧联系在一起。”新加坡《海峡时报》中国站站长陈丹薇在回顾几天来看到的大湾区基础设施建设成就时感受颇深。

　　在近年来备受关注的深中通道工程现场，面向一望无际的伶仃洋，阵阵海风拂面而来，不远处工程工地上一派热火朝天的繁忙景象，让来自泰国《星暹日报》侨社新闻的主编苏逸大发诗兴，当场吟诵了南宋诗人文天祥《过零丁洋》的诗句“惶恐滩头说惶恐，零丁洋里叹零丁”，她说，“看到这番景象，倒是一点儿都不‘惶恐’了，反而令人感到无比开阔和振奋。”

　　在珠海登上港珠澳大桥后，苏逸即兴赋诗《港珠澳大桥赋》：“港骥之托终须归，珠壁玉丽海生辉。澳埠潮兴华族旺，复兴桥叹盛世伟。”面对当地媒体的镜头，她掩饰不住内心的激动，“这次可以如此近距离参观港珠澳大桥，令人叹为观止，‘超级工程’果然名不虚传！”

　　马来西亚光华日报网数码新闻组主任颜健品也对大湾区巨型联通工程深有感触：“之前仅从报纸和网页上获取信息，根本无法体会这座桥有多么壮观，只有亲身来到现场才能感受到她的魅力所在。”

　　印度尼西亚《商报》副总编辑孙继飞得知目前港珠澳大桥观光旅游方案设计已悄然启动后表示非常赞同：“港珠澳大桥一定要和三地的景观串联起来，这样才能吸引更多的人。”

　　创新创业 活力无限

印度尼西亚《商报》副总编辑孙继飞在前海深港青年梦工场体验自动滑板。

　　随着粤港澳大湾区建设的扎实推进，粤港澳三地创新要素加速流动，创业联动活跃，创新链条融通。依托“广州—深圳—香港—澳门”科技创新走廊这一重要连接载体，粤港澳大湾区打造全球科技高地的进程进一步加快，一个具有全球影响力的国际科技创新中心正加速形成。

　　大湾区的科技创新，尤其是在东莞和深圳这两座城市，让新加坡《联合早报》副总编辑韩咏红印象最为深刻。“深圳的发展令人非常惊叹，‘very impressive’！这个城市的效率、企业的创新成果、人的创新精神和实干精神，处处都让人感觉到这里非常有活力。”

　　韩咏红若干年前曾到过东莞，走访过不少劳动密集型外贸企业。在这次湾区行之前，她认为东莞还是一个以低端的劳动密集型制造业为主的城市。通过走访中国散裂中子源、松山湖国际机器人产业基地和腾讯公司等地，她发现，整个大湾区正在往科技创新和高端制造业的方向飞速发展。

　　在前海深港青年梦工场和腾讯公司采访时，对大湾区创新创业发展环境颇感兴趣的孙继飞，饶有兴趣地体验了由香港创业团队研发的智能电动滑板和腾讯最新推出的创新型智能商业硬件“微信青蛙Pro”。他深有感触的说：“正是深圳前海的自身地理位置及政策上的优势，才能吸引大量高科技产业落地。我对前海还算熟悉，因为我们集团在这边投资了一个实验室。深圳是粤港澳大湾区四大中心城市之一，而前海作为自由贸易区，又是一个前沿阵地，在政策、资金以及法律法规上都有相应的支持，这对于我们投资高科技产业是非常有吸引力的。”

　　陈丹薇对香港、澳门青年来粤创业的故事特别感兴趣，在深圳前海的深港青年梦工场和珠海高新区的港澳科技成果转化基地，她详细询问了港澳创客代表，还互相交换了联系方式，计划进一步详细了解他们的创业故事。她认为这些故事生动呈现了大湾区所要推动的三地协同模式，可以鼓励更多的香港、澳门年轻人来内地创业。

　　文化多元 共融共生

两名粤剧演员在演出后被记者们团团围住。

　　粤港澳大湾区和东南亚地区地域相近、文脉相亲。广东的粤剧、潮剧、杂技、书画、雕塑等岭南文化艺术在东南亚地区广受欢迎，深深吸引并感染着东南亚人民。近年来，两地民间交往、多元文化交流互鉴进一步深化，成为增进友谊的重要桥梁。

　　这次采访团先后打卡永庆坊、粤剧艺术博物馆和孙中山故居等人文地点，实地感受粤港澳大湾区和东南亚地区的“民心相通”。

　　苏逸在参观粤剧艺术博物馆时告诉记者，“泰国是全球华人华侨最多的国家，有很多广州会馆、潮州会馆，我们经常有机会听到粤剧，连一些泰国政要也是‘票友’，偶尔会登台唱几段。”聊至兴起，同样作为“票友”的她还当场来了一小段《帝女花》选段，“以前只是对粤剧有些了解，此行找到了粤剧的根，第一次知道粤剧是与京剧、昆曲齐名的世界非物质文化遗产，有着如此丰富的内涵，获益匪浅。”

　　陈丹薇介绍说，19世纪很多广东人移民到新加坡，同时把他们的文化，尤其是粤剧带去了新加坡。如今在新加坡牛车水人民剧场里还经常有粤剧表演，吸引了很多当地人前去欣赏。

马来西亚光华日报网数码新闻组主任颜健品来到孙中山故居觉得特别亲切。

　　而对颜健品来说，虽然这是他第一次来到中山，但他与粤港澳大湾区的“缘分”却始于孙中山先生，原来，《光华日报》是孙中山先生1910年在马来西亚槟城创办。他说：“时至今日，我们依然秉持孙中山‘天下为公’的口号为华人社区服务。”谈及对这次“寻根”之旅的印象，颜健品表示，“这次来到中山，我发觉这个城市非常富有生命力，‘在发展与环保中抓到了平衡点’。”

　　同样来自马来西亚《星报》记者马盈慧也表示，她对历史很感兴趣，很多孙中山的事迹她都如数家珍，因此来到孙中山故居感到特别亲切。

　　携手共赢 共享发展

越南《人民报》主任记者苏黎明接受媒体采访。

　　从唐宋时期世界最长航线“通海夷道”的起点，到21世纪海上丝绸之路上的重要枢纽，这里一直是中国对外开放的前沿。站在历史的新起点，粤港澳大湾区必将进一步对外开放，与东南亚地区携手开创美好未来，实现“互利共赢”的更多可能。

　　对孙继飞等外媒记者们来说，这次湾区行采访活动，是一次“探索”之旅。“我们对粤港澳大湾区的发展现状非常好奇，希望能更进一步地了解大湾区，所以我就带着疑问来参加这个活动。”

　　孙继飞说，这次采访行程紧凑，采访点涵盖领域广泛，包括装备制造、科技创新、人文体验等等，让他看到了更加全面的大湾区，给了他很多惊喜。这次活动之后，他计划要更深入地与国内媒体进行联动，对粤港澳大湾区进行更加广泛的宣传报道，帮助沿线国家和地区的人们更深入了解粤港澳大湾区。

　　陈丹薇也是抱着同样的初衷来参加这次采访活动。作为一名从业20余年的资深记者，15年前她和朋友到香港旅游，顺道去了一趟深圳和广州，“老实讲，那个时候留给我的印象其实不是特别好”。自去年被派驻北京以来，陈丹薇撰写了大量关注中国经济社会发展的稿件，但她并没有机会亲自来大湾区走走看看。所以当她一接到此次采访邀请，便不假思索地答应了。

　　她说，其实国外对粤港澳大湾区发展规划的概念很模糊，国际社会特别好奇在这片土地上真正发生了什么。她计划回去后写个专题报道，让更多国外读者，甚至包括欧美的高校和智库，了解粤港澳大湾区规划建设蓝图和最新开发建设进展。

　　颜健品在活动结束后表示，粤港澳大湾区建设给整个东亚地区带来了无限机遇，他希望通过《光华日报》的报道，能让马来西亚的民众了解这些信息，也期待他们能抓住粤港澳大湾区建设发展的机遇，携手一起实现共赢。

　　越南《人民报》主任记者苏黎明表示，他非常惊讶深圳前海的科创发展，这对自己国家的发展有很大的借鉴作用。

　　韩咏红也认为，目前，粤港澳大湾区正全面推进科技、文化、民生等多个领域共同发展，相信包括新加坡在内的东南亚国家和地区也都对此抱有期待，希望能有机会进行互动合作。

南方网记者 欧阳妍 胡南 梁惠敏 尹珏文 魏申