Photo: Nanfang Plus
The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Macao has taken a major step toward becoming a regional hub for international digital trade with the launch of the cross-border trusted data space. The initiative was unveiled on July 8 during a high-level summit focused on cross-border data flows and digital economy cooperation between Guangdong and Macao.
Photo: Nanfang Plus
The new data space, co-developed by the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) and the China Future Internet Engineering Center (CFIEC), aims to enable secure and privacy-preserving cross-border data sharing, serving businesses engaged in global operations. It will form part of a broader digital ecosystem anchored in Hengqin's ongoing efforts to build a global digital trade port.
Key partnerships were also announced, including the launch of the “Guangdong-Macao Trusted Medical Data Space (粤澳医疗可信数据空间),” a pilot project enabling the exchange of medical data such as health records and diagnostic reports across borders. The initiative is expected to support AI-assisted diagnosis and smart healthcare services. Additionally, the formation of the Macao-Hengqin Digital Business Alliance (澳琴数商联盟) marks a shift from isolated digital projects to more integrated cooperation between tech enterprises from both sides.
Officials emphasized a “technology + regulation + application” framework as the foundation for new cross-border data flow models, highlighting Macao's role as a strategic connector to Portuguese-speaking markets such as Brazil.
With tech giants like ByteDance, Tencent Music, and China Telecom already operating in the cooperation zone, the region is positioning itself as a front-runner in international data collaboration. The summit gathered around 140 delegates from government, academia, and industry, reinforcing Hengqin and Macao's ambitions to shape an open and interoperable global digital economy.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Editor: Hu Nan, James, Shen He
