The Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee held a forum on Oct 25, discussing how to deepen regional cooperation and build a globally competitive modern industrial system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stressed that the "one country, two systems" policy will be upheld and improved, and that Hong Kong and Macao will be better integrated into the nation's development paradigm to play a bigger role in national rejuvenation, said Edmund Ho Hau Wah, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and former chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, while addressing the meeting via video.

Ho said that building a modern industrial system is an important task in the construction of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), a key starting point for enhancing higher-level and innovative cooperation in the region, and the only approach the area can take to upgrade its competitiveness.

To promote the construction of the GBA, the tremendous achievements made since the unveiling of the GBA development plan should be given full recognition, and confidence should be strengthened in accelerating the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the nation's development trends, and in promoting the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems", Ho said. 

He added that the unique advantages of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao should be given full play to complement each other and jointly boost the overall strength of the GBA.

In recent years, cooperative mechanisms in the GBA have improved and the construction of the area has been accelerating with the introduction of a series of reform measures, said Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Leung said that when facing the new international and domestic development environment, it is necessary and urgent for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to deepen cooperation in building a modern industrial system.

He noted that cooperation should be strengthened not only in natural sciences but in social sciences as well. He said that Hong Kong's unique advantages should be given better play in promoting the development of modern service industries in the GBA, especially in international finance, law and international shipping services.

Leung also called for closer communication to build mutual understanding and consensus among all parties in developing the area.

A number of CPPCC members, experts and officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Guangdong provincial government joined the discussions online and offline to share their insights on the development of the GBA.