The Pearl River is at the forefront of China’s reform and opening up policy. It is one of the regions with the highest degree of openness and economic vitality in China. This region is the birthplace of the world-class megalopolis, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The GBA is the first bay area in China. The construction and promotion of GBA is a major decision made by the Central Government, and a major national strategy personally planned, deployed and promoted by President Xi Jinping. On July 1, 2017, President Xi witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement on Deepening Cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to Promote the Construction of the Great Bay Area in Hong Kong, marking the official launch of the GBA construction. In February 2019, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Outline of the Development Plan for the GBA, which clearly calls for building an international first-class bay area and a world-class urban agglomeration.

The development of the GBA is a new attempt to promote the formation of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up in the new era, as well as a novel practice to expand the course of “One Country, Two Systems”. The Central Government has charted the direction for and injected a strong impetus into the growth of GBA. In this land of prosperity, thousands of sails are competing and striving. Shenzhen, for example, sets up the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (ICZ). Guangzhou builds the Nansha for deepening the comprehensive cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Hengqin, an Island close to the Macao SAR, establishes the Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone (DCZ). All these development zones have made remarkable achievements and shown dynamic vitality. It’s the time for us to take up the challenge, record the splendid chapter of the GBA story and demonstrate to the world the rising era of the GBA!

Nancy Kong     Chief Editor