Greater Bay Area expected to help bolster sustainable development

Having lived in the Greater Bay Area for almost two decades, Peter Helis, chief adviser of the Guangzhou Huangpu District, said he believed it is one of the most vibrant areas and possibly the fastest developing one in the world.

"I remember the slogan quite well, which was 'from made in Guangdong to create in Guangdong'. The drive gained such momentum that the GBA now not only accounts for half of the annual patent registrations of China but is also internationally recognized as an innovative powerhouse," he said.

Going forward, Helis said more efforts are needed to increase the area's global recognition, build an environment suitable for working and living and attract more talent.

Reaping the benefits of China's reform and opening-up over the past 40 years, the Greater Bay Area has attracted talent, capital and other essential resources from all over the world, which has helped the area create a comprehensive industrial chain, and an experimental, devoted and inclusive vibe, said Lionel M. Ni, president designate of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

"By providing novel technologies that help entrepreneurs grow their business", he said that HKUST (Guangzhou) "will become a powerful engine in driving the GBA's development through innovation".

He added that the GBA also possesses "favorable factors" that help HKUST (Guangzhou) in its "mission in driving a paradigm shift in higher education and nurturing out-of-the-box talent".

Citing the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Sio Chi Wai, chairman of the Macao Development Strategy Research Center, said that there is a chapter about development of ecological civilization, which clearly states the requirements for environmental protection and governance.

Noting some systematic discrepancies among the cities in the region, Sio said the area should build a more consistent, closer and efficient mechanism to improve environmental governance, which will help improve the efficiency of making the related policies and laws.