The first Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development was held in Macao from September 14 to 15, with the theme of "Greater Bay Area, Farsighted Strategy, Extensive Exchange, and Great Development".
（The first Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development ）
Over one thousand business representatives from about 20 countries gathered at the conference and exchanged information on topics such as digital economy, green finance, cultural tourism, and interconnectivity.
The Macao Initiative on Further Promotion of International Business Co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released at the conference, covering five topics, which are promoting an open world economy, the development of sci-tech innovation industries, green and sustainable development, regional economic integration, and culture.
（China Maritime Arbitration Commission – Greater Bay Area Arbitration Centre (South China Sub-commission)
The Report on the Participation of the International Business Community in the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Academy. In addition, the inauguration ceremony of the China Maritime Arbitration Commission – Greater Bay Area Arbitration Centre (South China Sub-commission) was held.
Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), said Macao implements a free trade policy, preserves its low tax status, and has advantageous business networks, linking the Chinese mainland and international investors.
Guo Lanfeng, a government official of the National Development and Reform Commission, addressed via video that the construction of major co-operation platforms in the GBA, including Hengqin, Qianhai, Nansha, and Hetao, will drive the overall co-operation and development of the GBA.
Guo Tingting, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, said via video that the Ministry of Commerce will continue to publish policies to support the development of the GBA and the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone. Guo furthered that measures related to the liberalization of trade and service under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will have early and pilot implantation in the GBA. Cross-border e-commerce and market purchasing trade practices will be actively fostered in the GBA.
Chen Xiaofeng, President of CCPIT Guangdong Committee, introduced that since the end of 2022, Guangdong Province has organized a series of investment conferences, such as the first Global Investment Promotion Conference of GBA and the China Overseas Chinese Investment (Guangdong) Conference, which has attracted total investment of more than 3 trillion RMB.
"Currently, the development of the digital economy in the GBA has a solid industrial foundation, which provides favorable conditions for the synergistic development among the digital economy, science and technology innovation, and industrial development," Chen added.
Alfredo Pascual, Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry, said that the Philippines and other ASEAN countries are very closely connected with the development of the GBA. The Philippines hopes to have more in-depth co-operation in the fields of sci-tech innovation and green economy by promoting policy synergy, technology transfer, and exchange of talents with the GBA.
Maria Gustava, Mozambique's Ambassador to China, said that Portuguese-speaking countries, Mozambique in particular, are eager to participate in the development of the GBA. She indicated that the co-development of the GBA has injected new vitality into the development of science and technology, connecting China's resources with the world. She believed that through the platforms of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, products from Mozambique could access larger markets in China.
The conference was jointly hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.
Reporter丨Nina, Nico(intern)
Editor丨Wing, Nan, Jasmine, James
Photos provided to GDToday
