Over 40 diplomatic envoys from 27 nations visited the Blue Dolphin Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on June 5, concluding the Guangdong leg of the "Set Sail for the 15th Five-Year Plan" diplomatic tour. This tour began on June 1 and had previously taken the diplomats from 37 countries to multiple cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhongshan, to witness the latest achievements of Chinese modernization.
Cao Jinfeng, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, delivered a keynote presentation, urging envoys from around the world to seize the development opportunities arising from the integration of Hengqin and Macao.
During his presentation, Cao provided a detailed overview of the latest progress in Hengqin-Macao integration, with a specific focus on the industrial development within the Cooperation Zone and the favorable policies for business and talent attraction. Hengqin, situated at a strategically significant point in the western part of the Greater Bay Area, serves as a key land link connecting it to both Hong Kong and Macao. It is also a vital platform for promoting economic diversification in Macao. It is currently committed to establishing a new system of high-level, integrated openness with Macao.
Over the past five years, the mechanism of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, joint governance, and shared benefits" has fully leveraged the institutional strengths of "one country, two systems". This approach has created a new administrative model that provides ample space and a vivid example for advancing coordinated regional development, while laying a solid institutional foundation for Hengqin’s long-term growth.
Cao noted that Hengqin has been continuously optimizing its international business environment. Since the implementation of the "separate customs administration" policy in March 2024, Hengqin has become the first "comprehensive zone under special customs supervision within the national border" to offer tax exemptions and rebates. This development has facilitated the efficient cross-border flow of people, goods, capital, and information, bringing significant benefits to both Chinese and overseas enterprises seeking to expand their markets. In 2025, with strong support from national ministries and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Macao SAR Government and the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee jointly established the Service Center for Economy and Trade between China and Portuguese/Spanish-speaking Countries (CECPS). The center offers global enterprises professional, all-in-one international services across more than ten categories.
In addition, Hengqin International Scientific and Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (referred to as the "Hengqin International Sci-Tech Competition") of 2026 will focus on attracting projects from Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries and regions. The competition will feature three overseas divisional venues in Lisbon (Portugal), São Paulo (Brazil), and Macao (China), focusing on six major tracks, including Digital-Intelligent Integration, Artificial Intelligence, as well as Green Energy and Sustainable Development. The total prize pool is approximately 200 million yuan, with a winning rate of 20%. Since its inception in 2018, the competition has been successfully held three times and attracted nearly 3,500 projects globally, with a top prize of 100 million yuan for a single project.
Cao concluded his presentation by sincerely inviting friends from around the world to visit Hengqin for on-site inspections, investment, and cooperation. As the visit came to an end, many diplomatic envoys expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with China in areas such as infrastructure, economy and trade, as well as science and technology.
Reporter: Xie Maishi
Photo by: Guo Chuhua
