Foreign delegates on a tour of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area expressed their admiration for the region’s dynamic innovation and trade advantages on Thursday, highlighting its abundant “opportunities and possibilities”.

A delegation of over 70 members, comprising Hong Kong-based diplomats and business chamber leaders, began a four-day exploration of the Greater Bay Area on Tuesday. They have toured key development hubs such as Qianhai in Shenzhen and Nansha in Guangzhou, engaging with local entrepreneurs and officials.

Speaking at a Greater Bay Area promotional event held by the Guangdong provincial government on Thursday morning, Daniel Freihofer, consul general of Switzerland in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said he witnessed the region’s strong momentum and observed the rapid growth behind its status as one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative economic engines.

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With a growing number of Swiss companies operating in China — especially in the Greater Bay Area — Freihofer said the region’s integrated research and development clusters and cross-border synergies have unique value to Switzerland’s advantageous industries, spanning precision instruments, biotech, and clean technology.

He said Hong Kong’s regulatory system, intellectual property protections, and financial services are critical enablers for international collaboration, while stressing Guangdong province’s growing role in practical innovation.

Jeremy Sheldon, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, praised the tour for revealing the Greater Bay Area’s cutting-edge tech advancements, calling it an eye-opening experience.

He cited examples like agricultural drones and artificial-intelligence-driven medical solutions as transformative industries.

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Sheldon also noted the region’s rise as one of Asia’s top innovation hubs — home to giants like Tencent — and Hong Kong’s role as a bridge for global and mainland businesses, saying many members of his chamber have already tapped into the Greater Bay Area’s growth potential.

In a separate promotional event held by the Nansha district government, Romulo Victor M Israel Jr, consul general of the Philippines in the Hong Kong SAR, said that the tour showcased Shenzhen’s extraordinary development pace and exposed participants to endless innovative possibilities, particularly in information and communication technology, AI, and robotics, in which technology serves humanity.

David Whitwam, chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, highlighted the Greater Bay Area’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, progressive policies, free trade zones, and strong government support, including tax incentives and streamlined regulations, making it an ideal global trade gateway.

During the Guangdong promotion conference, Cui Jianchun, commissioner of China’s Foreign Ministry office in the Hong Kong SAR, highlighted the Greater Bay Area’s strategic role in China’s modernization efforts, serving as a model for political, economic, cultural, and social integration.

He described the region as a dynamic hub for innovation, backed by world-class infrastructure, a strong industrial base, and leadership in global trade and investment. Cui emphasized the Greater Bay Area’s role as a national strategic asset — a testing ground for pioneering policies and a blueprint for regional development.

He called on businesses, chambers, and international partners to collaborate with the Greater Bay Area, and turn it into a global platform for shared progress and prosperity, with Hong Kong and Guangdong leading the way.

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Bernard Chan Pak-li, Hong Kong undersecretary of commerce and economic development, highlighted Guangdong’s strong advanced manufacturing sector and rapid industry growth.

He said that Hong Kong, as a global financial hub, offers diverse funding channels for Guangdong firms, helping them expand internationally and attract foreign investment.

Zhu Wei, deputy director general of the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission and executive deputy director-general of the Office of the Leading Group of the Construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said that the Greater Bay Area, as one of nation’s most open and economically dynamic regions, is tasked with becoming a driving force for high-quality national development.

Guangdong remains at the forefront of China’s economy. By the end of 2024, the province hosted over 19 million registered businesses, including over 210,000 foreign-funded enterprises — the largest such base nationwide. Over 92 percent of the foreign-funded enterprises were based in the nine mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing.

The delegation visited Guangzhou’s Nansha district on Thursday, touring Greater Bay Technology — carmaker GAC Aion’s battery technology subsidiary — and Guangdong Medical Valley-Nansha Life Sciences.

The delegation will continue its trip in Zhuhai today.

Contact the writers at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com