The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee held a consultation meeting in Beijing on July 14 on handling a key proposal on further promoting high-level cross-border cooperation and opening-up of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

Leung emphasized the need to align with the "one pivot, two areas" strategic positioning — establishing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a strategic pivot for the new development pattern, a demonstration area for high-quality development and a leading area for Chinese modernization— in GBA development. He called for implementing the decisions and plans of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, prioritizing connectivity as the key component of GBA development, using high-level cross-border cooperation to boost coordinated scientific and technological innovation, and leveraging major cooperation platforms as pilot demonstrations to advance the next phase of GBA development.

He stressed the importance of deepening collaboration to resolve key challenges in building the Hetao cooperation zone. This includes enabling the efficient flow of research elements, accelerating regulatory alignment and mechanism coordination, and developing the zone into a major hub for international sci-tech innovation within the GBA.

Leung also encouraged proposal-handling departments to engage in thorough consultations with proposal sponsors, underscoring the importance of a results-oriented approach to ensure high-quality proposal handling outcomes that contribute to the advancement of Chinese modernization.

At the meeting, officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee gave an overview of the Hetao cooperation zone's development. Proposal sponsor representatives presented the background of the proposal and shared suggestions. Officials from the proposal-handling departments -- including the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Immigration Administration – spoke about respective work progress and responded to questions. 

Other topics of discussion included enhancing sci-tech resource sharing and talent exchange between Shenzhen of Guangdong province and Hong Kong, accelerating the materialization of innovation outcomes, and optimizing the development environment for top talents.