The 2025 ASEAN-China GBA Economic Cooperation (Qianhai) Forum concluded on November 28 at the Qianhai International Conference Center in Shenzhen, charting a new course for industrial and technological collaboration between Southern China's economic hub and Southeast Asian nations.
Held under the theme "Intelligent Connectivity, Industrial Synergy," the two-day forum attracted over 1,000 participants, including senior diplomats, government officials, industry leaders, and scholars from China and ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The event featured a main forum, three thematic sessions on AI, international branding, and think tank cooperation, as well as an interactive tech exhibition.
A series of key initiatives were launched during the forum, including the China-ASEAN Emerging Industries Collaborative Innovation Demonstration Base and the AI STR (Safe, Trustworthy, and Responsible) International Open Laboratory—the first cross-border lab focused on AI ethics and governance.
The forum also witnessed the release of the "2025 Greater Bay Area-ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Frontier Report" and the signing of more than 20 cooperation agreements in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biopharmaceuticals, and new energy.
A notable outcome was the establishment of the GBA-ASEAN Legal Service Cooperation Center, jointly founded by legal institutions from seven countries. Cross-border projects such as the MOU between the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub and Thailand Science Park, National Science and Technology Development Agency were also among the deals sealed.
With tangible outcomes and institutional mechanisms now in place, the 2025 forum has reinforced Qianhai's role as a strategic bridge linking the GBA and ASEAN.
Reporter | Cai Minling
Photo | The 2025 ASEAN-China GBA Economic Cooperation (Qianhai) Forum
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
