Greater Bay Science Forum calls for deepened global cooperation

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao reached a consensus to deepen scientific and technological cooperation in the Greater Bay Area and jointly build an international scientific and technological innovation center at the Greater Bay Science Forum 2021, which opened in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, on Dec 11.

Themed "Exploring the Future, Sharing Scientific Achievement", the Greater Bay Science Forum 2021 was held to promote international scientific and technological cooperation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area and the world.

Initiated by the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) under the Belt and Road Initiative, the forum attracted more than 100 top academicians and experts from around the world. They attended the event and joined discussions, online or in person, on frontier topics covering life science, nano-science, network communication technology, sustainable development, marine sciences and intelligent industrial software.

The Greater Bay Area enjoys the dual advantages of "one country" and "two systems", and new progress that resembles a chemical reaction is on the horizon when combining the strengths of Hong Kong and Macao in international connections and networks with Guangdong as an industrial powerhouse, said Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

As a "super-connector" between the Chinese mainland and the international arena, Hong Kong faces great development opportunities in this strategic initiative and there are a lot of things that the city needs to do, can do and that are worth doing, according to Leung.

While promoting exchanges and cooperation in the science and technology sector, Hong Kong can also help facilitate investment and financing, and attract international and returned Chinese talents for the Greater Bay Area, said Leung.

In a video speech, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that Guangdong province and Hong Kong SAR are closely related and have been cooperating in various fields, including scientific innovation.

In the past two years, the Chinese mainland granted more than 440 million yuan to fund scientific research and establishment of laboratories at universities and institutions in Hong Kong and nearly half of the funds came from Guangdong, said Lam.

She noted that Hong Kong will continue to work closely with Guangdong to promote development of the Greater Bay Area and make contribution to the country's scientific innovation.

Ho Iat-seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, also pledged to deep scientific and technological cooperation in the bay area. 

Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui said the coastal province has been committed to pursuing innovation-driven growth with solid progress that has been made since 2017. He said that the science forum will serve as a high-end window to showcase latest achievements in scientific and technological innovation, and promote scientific exchanges and mutual learning among countries.

The forum is also of great significance in helping gather wisdom from around the world to boost the growth of the Greater Bay Area as an important global innovation engine, and explore new path to address global challenges, said the Guangdong governor.

Bai Chunli, chairman of ANSO, said that as the first international scientific organization launched under the Belt and Road Initiative in China, ANSO and its global innovation partners have worked together to address challenges facing people's livelihood and the science and technology sector. It has conducted a large number of joint research programs such as the "joint fighting against COVID-19" and has become an important force in the global science and technology innovation governance system. 

The ANSO chairman hoped that the Greater Bay Science Forum will grow into a pivotal platform that provide unique solutions for global governance on scientific and technological innovation.