Since the Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative was proposed by Premier Li Keqiang in March last year, the Chamber’s China Committee has organized seven missions to enable our members to see first-hand the latest developments and explore opportunities for cooperation. In our latest visit, PC Yu, Chairman of the China Committee, led a 34-member delegation to Zhaoqing and Zengcheng in Guangdong Province on May 24-25.

Industry upgrade in Zengcheng
Zengcheng’s focus on advanced manufacturing got a major boost when Foxconn decided to build an industrial park in this area in the east of Guangzhou. Foxconn’s investment of 61 billion renminbi (HK$74 billion) in the 10.5 Generation 8K Display Full-scale Eco-industrial Park is the largest single investment in Guangzhou since it started its reform and opening-up process. The Chamber delegation visited the under-construction park, which is expected to be one of the most cutting-edge display projects in the world when completed and has helped attract other high-tech businesses. 

“Thanks to the development of Foxconn’s eco-industrial park, the region has experienced rapid growth and is gradually moving towards becoming a small town driven by technology and innovation,” said Feng Guangjun, Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality. “Many enterprises engaging in information technology parts manufacturing have set up business in the Zengcheng development zone.”

Yu said that he was impressed by the changes Zengcheng has enacted in recent years and could see the potential for further development.

Delegates also visited the innovation centre of Zengcheng Qiaomengyuan Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Industrial Zone. Wu Weidong, Standing Committee Member of the Guangzhou City Zengcheng District Committee of the CPC, explained that the zone had proactively introduced policies to encourage overseas Chinese to return to the city. 

“Qiaomengyuan has attracted over 30 overseas Chinese to settle and brought in four Chinese experts in scientific research,” he said. “Seventeen innovative entrepreneurship projects have also been successfully rolled out, mainly in the area of high-tech research and development.”

Zhaoqing’s transport improvements 
Members also visited the city of Zhaoqing – literally “source of fortuitousness”– which serves as a gateway connecting the Mainland’s southwestern region. The Zhaoqing New District is a key part of the city’s development plans. Since its establishment in 2012, the district has been constructing transport infrastructure to improve connections with other GBA cities. 

Fan Zhongjie, Mayor of the Zhaoqing Municipal Government, introduced the transport plans during the delegation’s visit to the Zhaoqing East Railway Station. 

“Over the past few years, Zhaoqing has developed a transport network of ‘eight vertical and 10 horizontal’ lines, with highways linking to Guangzhou and Foshan,” Fan said. “Construction of an underground railway system is also in the pipeline, with a view to realizing a half-hour living circle between Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing.”

In addition, a high-speed rail link means it now only takes 66 minutes to travel to Shenzhen.

Sports, healthcare and culture are also key sectors for Zhaoqing. Members visited the Zhaoqing New District Sports Centre, which was completed in March this year with a total project investment of 1.2 billion renminbi. The 15th Games of Guangdong Province will be held there on 8 August.

Chen Yuwen, Director of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Zhaoqing Municipal People’s Government, Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Bureau of Zhaoqing Municipality, said the sports centre will help to inject a new vibrancy to the city. As well as major sports contests, the centre will also host concerts and other leisure events, helping to showcase Zhaoqing’s new image as a green and dynamic city.

The delegation also saw how the city is protecting its historical locations and improving the environment through the Zhaoqing Chengfu Protection and Rehabilitation Project. The ancient city wall of Duanzhou in Zhaoqing is the only well-preserved city wall from the Song Dynasty in the province, and is a national-level protected historical site. 

The total investment in the Zhaoqing Chengfu Protection and Rehabilitation Project is expected to reach about 4 billion renminbi, and aims to revitalise Zhaoqing as a political, economic and cultural hub over the next decade. Already, the changes to the city are visible, Yu said: “In just a day trip, we were able to see the scenic ecological environment and rich land resources of Zhaoqing as well as the modern urban design of the New District.” 

Zhaoqing takes up around a quarter of the area of the GBA, but only one-third of its land is currently developed. This means the city can enjoy a strong late-mover advantage, Yu noted. 

“With the infrastructure and transport network largely completed, the city is poised to embrace the opportunities arising from the GBA development,” he said.