OCMFA's Zhongshan Tour: Foreign Businesses in Hong Kong 'Visit Zhongshan' to Eye the Greater Bay Area's New Productivity, Cooperation Opportunities

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) organized a delegation visit to Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, from April 9 to 10, under the theme "Visit Zhongshan: Together for Stronger Hong Kong and Zhongshan Cooperation". The delegation included representatives from foreign businesses, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and Consular Corps in Hong Kong.

The visit, which coincides with the 160th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth, invited the delegation to tour several key sites in Zhongshan: the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Starry Union Global Brand Lighting Center, Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited, Akeso (Zhongshan) Biopharma Co., Ltd., XSTO Co., Ltd., and the western artificial island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, etc., aiming to provide a deeper understanding of Zhongshan's rich historical and cultural heritage and its emerging new productive forces to the delegation members.

Mr. Hua You, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Hua You, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated in the opening speech that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of China's most open and economically dynamic regions, serving as a key hinterland for Hong Kong's prosperity and growth. Though spanning just 56,000 square kilometers, the Area is a vibrant hub facilitating the seamless flow of people, goods, capital, and information, accounting for 1/9 of China's GDP and 1/5 of its total trade. He noted that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

He noted that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The recently concluded Two Sessions have not only reinforced China's commitment to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, but have also charted a new course for the Greater Bay Area's future development, creating new opportunities and opening up new space for international cooperation with China.

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Hua stated that Zhongshan is a strategic fulcrum for the integrated development of both sides of the Pearl River Estuary. Located at the geometric center of the Greater Bay Area, Zhongshan boasts a comprehensive transportation network encompassing "sea, land, air, and rail", with a one-hour commute circle covering Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Macau. The opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge in 2024 officially ushered Zhongshan into the era of "Shenzhen-Zhongshan integration", further strengthening spatial integration and synergy between Zhongshan and other Greater Bay Area cities, including Hong Kong.

He pointed out that Zhongshan is a key region in the Greater Bay Area where industry and technology reinforce each other. With a strong manufacturing base, Zhongshan serves as the "industrial hinterland" and "innovation springboard" of the Greater Bay Area. The city's R&D expenditure has grown at an average annual rate of approximately 15%, and the total number of high-tech enterprises is approaching 3,000. Since Zhongshan's manufacturing strengths and Hong Kong's financial advantages are highly complementary, he believes that as the development of the Greater Bay Area has been continuously promoted, cooperation between Hong Kong and Zhongshan will usher in broader opportunities.

Mr. Hua also noted that Zhongshan is a historical and cultural city with profound heritage. As the hometown of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great pioneer of China's democratic revolution, Zhongshan carries forward his revolutionary ideal of "daring to be the first", a spirit deeply embedded in the people of Zhongshan and reflected in every aspect of the city's development and innovative practices. The blend of Chinese and Western folk culture and architectural styles, along with authentic Cantonese cuisine and international delicacies, makes Zhongshan an increasingly popular destination for people to live, work, and thrive.

Mr. Riaz Ahmed SHAIKH, the Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Riaz Ahmed SHAIKH, the Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong, stated that this was his third time participating in the delegation tour organized by OCMFA. He believes that such visits are inherently exploratory learning experiences for everyone. He noted that many countries, such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have traditions spanning thousands of years, each with its own unique culture and development history, like China. A key lesson he had learned from his previous two visits was how to integrate long-standing cultural heritage with modern development.

He observed that every visit to any city in China—for instance, the previous Greater Bay Area tour, which included a visit to Shenzhen, renowned for its technology, development, and smart city innovations, as well as Guangzhou—offers him a glimpse into the Area's overall development achievements. The Greater Bay Area, operating under the "9+2" framework (which includes Hong Kong, Macau, and nine Mainland cities), has reached a GDP of approximately 1.3 to 1.4 trillion RMB, which is a truly substantial figure. As for the tour this year, covering multiple sectors including culture, new materials, biotechnology, and new energy, he believed would provide an excellent learning opportunity for all the participants.

Mr. David Whitwam, the Chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. David Whitwam, the Chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, said that industries and cultures across China are growing rapidly, with Zhongshan's development within the Greater Bay Area serving as a prime example. He believed these firsthand experiences would allow participants to reflect on their own thinking, challenge existing assumptions, and identify potential opportunities for cooperation.
He indicated that the primary expectation of the tour was to learn from Zhongshan's strengths, gain a deeper understanding of the local business environment, and explore areas where mutually beneficial relationships could be built. He also looked forward to exchanging ideas with the local community, noting that such visits are not merely about observation, but more importantly, about contributing perspectives, building connections, and forging long-term understanding and friendships that extend well beyond the tour itself.

Speech by SITI at Main Forum and Distinguished Contributors Gala of 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Main Forum and Distinguished Contributors Gala of the 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit today (April 13):

(Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Mr Wang Jingtao), (Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, Mr Ren Xianliang), Professor Francis Gurry (Vice-chairman of the WIC), Financial Secretary Mr Paul Chan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. Welcome to Hong Kong and to the Main Forum of this Summit. We are gathered here today not only to strengthen dialogue and co-operation, but to chart a more inclusive, secure and innovative digital future. This year's Summit is especially meaningful, as the World Internet Conference distinguished contributors are joining us to share their insights and experience in advancing global Internet development.

The world is experiencing a powerful wave of digital transformation. Only through technological innovation and international cooperation can we build a sustainable digital future for all. This direction aligns closely with China's National 15th FiveYear Plan, which calls for deeper integration of technology and industry. Hong Kong has embraced this mission with determination. We are pressing ahead to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre and to support the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in becoming a worldclass innovation hub.

Guided by the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, we are shaping a new Hong Kong I&T landscape anchored by "three major I&T parks" and "five key research and development (R&D) institutions". Our industry policy focuses on strategic technology areas such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and advanced manufacturing and new energy, which will define Hong Kong's global competitiveness in the decades ahead.

Home to five of the world's top 100 universities, Hong Kong's academic excellence continues to fuel our R&D capability. Our two existing InnoHK research clusters are driving breakthroughs in healthcare, AI and robotics. A new InnoHK cluster, focusing on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and new materials, will be established in the first half of this year. At the moment, over 3 000 researchers from around the world are contributing their expertise at the InnoHK clusters, building a vibrant platform for longterm innovation and global R&D collaboration.

The HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government continues to invest strategically in infrastructure and talent to accelerate the transformation of R&D outcomes and foster tech industry development. For example, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, one of the five key R&D institutions, is set to launch this year to drive the strategic development of AI.

With the kick-off of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster project last month, running in parallel with Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre, Hong Kong's computing power is set to increase by more than thirtyfold by 2032, meeting the fastgrowing demands of the AI industry. We will also set up the first National Manufacturing Innovation Centre outside the Chinese Mainland, contributing directly to the nation's breakthroughs in core technologies, particularly in semiconductors.

Hong Kong's open and friendly business environment, world-class infrastructure, global university partnerships and international talent pool make us a magnet for talents and enterprises. Our unique advantage under "one country, two systems" positions us as both the gateway to the Chinese Mainland and a bridge to the world. As a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", Hong Kong facilitates the flow of ideas, capital and talents for ventures that are keen to harness comparative strengths across jurisdictions.

Hong Kong's I&T transformation is already yielding visible results. Our start-up ecosystem has grown rapidly, now home to more than 5 200 start-ups, representing a surge of around 40 per cent compared to that of five years ago and reflecting Hong Kong's growing appeal to global innovators. International rankings also affirm our momentum: Hong Kong placed third worldwide in the "Technology" factor and fourth overall in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, and we are the first in Asia and fourth globally in the World Talent Ranking 2025. Even more significant, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster topped the Global Innovation Index 2025 Ranking of World's Top 100 Innovation Clusters for the first time. All these achievements are not isolated milestones, but demonstrate Hong Kong's solid capability and rising influence in shaping global I&T development.

Building a community with a shared future in cyberspace requires the concerted efforts of all parties. We look forward to working with partners from all regions to deepen co-operation, share opportunities and generate real benefits through digital and intelligent development.

In closing, I wish the WIC Asia-Pacific Summit every success. Thank you all for your presence, and I trust the Summit will be most fruitful. Thank you.

Source: AI-found images