Nansha accelerating development and opening-up

This year marks the first anniversary of the release of the Overall Plan for Promoting Comprehensive Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao by Further Deepening Opening-up in Nansha District of Guangzhou issued by the State Council in June 2022.

Over the past year, the district has witnessed accelerated project construction, innovative industrial development and the gathering of top talents, creating a major strategic platform that is rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Since the release of the plan, Guangzhou has concentrated on such areas as scientific planning and coordination among different departments. It has supported Nansha in making full use of the high-standard economic and trade rules of the pilot free trade zone, the expansion of comprehensive pilot projects of the service industry, high-level opening-up pilot projects for cross-border trade and investment and other progressive policies such as innovative demonstration zones for promoting import trade and comprehensive bonded zones. It strives to build an advanced gateway for the opening-up and enhance the international cooperation and competitive advantages of the Bay Area.

Containers are piled up at Nansha Port in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. [Photo/gsf.org.cn]

In 2022, Nansha saw fruitful outcomes: the Phase IV of the Nansha Port commenced operations; the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) welcomed its first batch of students; 299 new projects came to Nansha with a total investment of 688.2 billion yuan (about $100 billion); and the total import and export value in Nansha reached 298.82 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.1 percent.

Guangzhou has taken the lead in implementing comprehensive pilot measures for expanding the opening-up of the service industry in Nansha and participated in the formulation of a negative list for cross-border trade in services in the pilot free-trade zone.

Guangzhou's next step is to focus on improving trade channels and expanding international exchanges. It will constantly upgrade the level of open platforms with innovative policies, industries and modes and make it an important carrier for deep integration into the global economy.

Since the release of the plan, the Greater Bay Area Science Forum has given full play to its key role as an international platform for scientific and technological exchanges, focusing on the major strategy of building GBA a global sci-tech innovation center and contributing new ideas and solutions to build an open innovation ecosystem.

From May 20 to 23, the 2023 Greater Bay Area Scientific Forum, hosted by the Guangdong provincial government, undertaken by the Guangzhou government and Nansha development zone administrative committee, kicked off in Nansha.

The forum consisted of one plenary session and 15 thematic forums, with more than 3,000 attendees gathered in Nansha, including leaders of the Party and the country, officials at all levels in GBA, Nobel laureates, domestic and foreign academicians, renowned scientists, S&T experts, representatives from well-known organizations and research institutions in the GBA and internationally, attracting extensive discussions.

GSF is located in the core area of Mingzhu Bay, Nansha, next to the Nansha Science City. With the support of the plan to build a base for cooperation in science and technology innovation, it will further promote global exchanges and mutual learning in scientific and technological innovation  and achieve win-win cooperation. It will strongly support the construction of the GBA and allow the results of scientific and technological innovation to benefit more countries and people.

Focusing on the development of the real economy, deep integration, a business-friendly environment, precise alignment with demands, and first-class service quality, Nansha will provide strong exploration and serve as a strategic fulcrum for the new development pattern of the GBA, a demonstration area for high-quality development, and a leading force in China's modernization.

An aerial photo shows Nansha district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. [Photo/gsf.org.cn]