In the report to the 19th National People’s Congress, it was stressed that “the development of Hong Kong and Macao is closely tied up with the mainland. We will continue to support Hong Kong and Macao in integrating their own development into the overall development of the country. We will give priority to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and regional cooperation in the pan-Pearl River Delta, thus fully advancing mutually beneficial cooperation between the Mainland and the two regions.” This marked the beginning of deeper and wider cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. To look at the role that Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the Bay Area) played in the state’s development strategies and to explore the positioning and functions of Macau in the development of the Bay Area, the Research Centre for Macau Social and Economic Development of the University and the Center for Studies of Hong Kong, Macao and Pearl River Delta, Sun Yat-Sen University jointly organized the “Celebration Ceremony for 18th Anniversary of Macau’s Return of Sovereignty and Academic Forum on the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” at the Ho Yin Convention Centre of the University on 6 December.

Ms. Chan Tze Wai, Deputy General, Economic Bureau, Mr. Lao Ngai Leong, Macau’s Deputy to the National People's Congress and Vice-President of City University of Macau Foundation Trust Committee, Mr. Pu Hailong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Education, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region, the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Li Yang, Deputy Director General, the Policy Research Department, the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ms. Song Pek Kei, Macau Legislative Councilor, Prof. Chen Guang Han, Director, the Center for Studies of Hong Kong, Macau and Pearl River Delta, Sun Yat-Sen University, Prof. Peng Gang, Director of the Economic Research Center for Developing Countries, Renmin University of China, Shu Guang Zhang, Rector of the University, Prof. Kong Fan Qing, Vice Rector and Prof Ip Kuai Peng, Pro-Rector, scholars from Mainland and Macau, and teachers and students of the University attended the Forum. Deputy General Ms. Chan Tze Wai, Pro Rector Prof. Ip Kuai Peng and Prof. Chen Guang Han delivered opening remarks at the Forum.

Deputy General Ms. Chan Tze Wai stressed that the focus of the development of the Bay Area was not simply trade and investment within the Area, it was also important that the cities in the Bay Area leveraged their own advantages and unique characteristics to complement one another’s strengths, ensuring the cities were connected in the areas of logistics, information, investment, trade, innovation and technology, and cultural exchange. She also pointed out that Macau’s positioning in the development of the Bay Area was very clear. It would actively promote economic diversification and sustainable development, reflecting the SAR government’s development philosophy of ‘leveraging Macau’s strengths complementing in national development’.

Pro-Rector Prof. Ip Kuai Peng pointed out that in joining hands to promote the development of the Bay Area, Macau could leverage the advantages of “One Country Two Systems”, international free trade port and worldwide connection network, fostering its position as a world centre of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and a hub for exchanges and cooperation on Chinese culture, making use of Macao’s multicultural tradition and environment. With the above positioning, Macau could work with other Bay Area cities to build a world class Bay Area.

Prof. Chen Guang Han said in his speech that “One Country Two Systems” is the unique feature that made Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area stand out in among the bay areas and it is also one of the Bay Area’s biggest advantages. He pointed out that Bay Area cities should work together to foster a stream of diversified exchange while leveraging the advantages of each city. Only by doing this would it be possible to drive the overall economic development of the entire region. He believed that Macau could grasp the opportunities offered by the Bay Area developments to promote local tourism and commerce service platform in order to build a more diversified economy.

After the opening ceremony, Director Prof. Chen Guang Han, Prof. Peng Gang, Director of the Economic Research Center for Developing Countries, Renmin University of China, delivered their keynote speeches respectively on “From ‘Front Shop and Back Plant’ model to Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in a New Era”, “Grasping Opportunities, Leveraging Advantages, upgrade and restructure Macau’s Economy”, “How Macau can Participate in the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”.

After the above speeches were panel discussions. The three themes were “Macau’s Positioning and Roles in the Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, “Development of the Bay Area and Macau’s Social and Economic Development” and “Development of the Bay Area and Regional Cooperation”.

Through keystone speeches and panel discussions, guests and scholars attending the Forum were able to exchange views and actively participate in discussion, providing input on ways to promote the long-term development of Macau and the Bay Area.

Group photo of guests

 Deputy General Ms. Chan Tze Wai delivering opening remarks

Pro-Rector Prof. Ip Kuai Peng delivering opening remarks

Director Prof. Chen Guang Han delivering opening remarks

  Keynote speech