GBA briefs

Hong Kong: Exports and imports see increases of 7.1%, 3.3% in Q1

The total volume of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's exports and imports of goods surged 7.1 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2023.

In March alone, the volume of exports and imports edged up 0.5 percent and 1 percent year-on-year, respectively. Overall exports to Vietnam and the Chinese mainland rose in March, while exports to the United States, India and the region of Taiwan fell.

Macao: Travel industry leaders optimistic for tourism

The 2024 annual summit of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, held in the Macao Special Administrative Region, ended on May 17. It was attended by more than 400 travel industry representatives from about 30 countries and regions — the highest participation rate recorded in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-day summit, themed "Reimagining Tourism", saw more than 20 group sessions and discussions, as well as presentations, with over 40 guest speakers sharing their insights into the world's sustainable and innovative development of tourism, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Industry experts exchanged views on tourism technology, artificial intelligence, educational tourism and the night economy.

Guangzhou: Baiyun Airport passenger throughput surpasses 5m

Passenger flow at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has reached a milestone, with the number of travelers using the airport having surpassed 5 million as of May 17 — an almost 160-percent year-on-year growth.

Amid growing people-to-people exchanges and visa-free travel between the Chinese mainland and other countries and regions, passenger traffic at Baiyun International Airport has continued to rise, with nearly 43,000 travelers recorded daily.

Currently, the busiest airport in the Guangdong provincial capital operates passenger routes to more than 50 international and domestic destinations. Over 1,400 international and domestic passenger flights take off from, or land at the airport each week.

Shenzhen: Rare earth group sets up innovation base in Nanshan

The China Rare Earth Group Co Ltd — based in rare-earth-rich Jiangxi province — unveiled the plaque for its innovation base in Shenzhen's Nanshan district on May 17. This marks a big step forward in the development of the green energy, and new materials industries. The group also signed cooperation agreements with China Resources Holdings Co Ltd, and tech giants like BYD and Huawei.

Cooperation with Shenzhen will focus on key sectors including new energy, new materials, electronic information, the low-altitude economy, and biomedicine.

"As Shenzhen's innovation ecosystem is among the best in China, we can capitalize on the city's influence at home and abroad to attract more talent and drive the development of high-end materials made from rare earth metals," said Gan Yong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Zhuhai: Policy boosts HK, Macao tour guides in Hengqin

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin island has begun renewing licenses for tourism industry professionals from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. Under a new policy introduced, the validity period of the special tour guide qualification in the zone will be the same as that in Hong Kong or Macao, meeting the needs of the tourism sector on Hengqin.

Since the new regulation allowing Hong Kong and Macao tour guides to work in the zone was launched in December 2020, a total of 885 tour guides from the SARs had completed training and acquired certification there by late last year. A new round of pre-employment training courses for Hong Kong and Macao tourism practitioners will start soon.

Foshan: High-end manufacturing draws 1b yuan in Chancheng

Two companies from Foshan and the Macao SAR will invest 1 billion yuan ($138 million) to build an intelligent and precision manufacturing base in Foshan's Chancheng district.

The two enterprises have set up a joint venture company, Guangdong Taoying Zhongyi Precision Manufacturing Corp, in Chancheng, and the base will be constructed on a 20-acre industrial plot of land at Qianmu Industrial Park.

It's the first overseas capital investment project in Chancheng this year aimed at promoting innovation and communication in the precision manufacturing industry and new materials sectors.

Huizhou: City attracts rural renewal projects worth 5.3b yuan

Huizhou's rural revitalization and investment promotion drive made headway at the investment promotion conference held on May 16. Twenty-five projects were signed during the conference, with investments reaching 5.31 billion yuan in fields like specialty planting and farming, agro-processing and cultural tourism.

More than 100 local agricultural production enterprises displayed over 350 types of specialty products at the event which also focused on connecting suppliers and the market.

Huizhou has been organizing the conference for two consecutive years with 79 cooperation projects sealed so far. Construction work on 47 of the projects has started, with investments amounting to 2.6 billion yuan.

Dongguan: Enterprises show off latest creations at robotics fair

The 5th Industrial Automation and Robotics Show (South China) was held in Dongguan from May 15 to 17, with the theme, "Embracing a New Quality Productive Force and Aiding New Industrialization".

Leading enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Denmark and South Korea showcased their latest products and technologies at the fair, which covered an exhibition area of 50,000 square meters.

The event focused on robotics and intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, medical and healthcare and other key industry chains, providing an exchange and docking platform for upstream and downstream manufacturing enterprises.

Zhongshan: Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link a step closer to full operation

Asphalt paving work on the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link — a mega sea-crossing passage in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area — was completed on May 16, paving the way for the expected opening of the link later this year.

The 24-kilometer-long, eight-lane expressway is the world's most comprehensive cross-sea cluster project, integrating bridges, islands, tunnels and underwater interconnections. As the largest epoxy steel bridge deck pavement project in the world, the total pavement area reaches 380,000 square meters — equivalent to the size of 53 standard football fields — according to Poly Changda Engineering Co Ltd.

When fully operational, the expressway will cut travel time from Zhongshan to Shenzhen from the current two hours to less than 30 minutes.

Jiangmen: HK-Jiangmen youth group marches into 19th year

The Hong Kong-Jiangmen Youth Exchange Promotion Association, which has been operating since 2006, held a ceremony on May 17 to mark its ninth inaugural event.

The association has organized more than 300 events so far to promote cooperation and mutual understanding among young people in Jiangmen and the HKSAR.

So Tsz-yin, deputy director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong province, said she hoped Jiangmen will continue to strengthen the development of Hong Kong youth in Jiangmen. Youth organizations like the association should continue playing a bridging role and providing job opportunities for the younger generation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Zhaoqing: New pier set to boost port's shipment capacity

The main structure of five berths at Zhaoqing's Jiushi Pier was topped out recently as construction of the shipping terminal neared completion.

The pier, due to be completed later this year, is part of the city's efforts to leverage the "golden waterway" section of Xijiang — a main tributary of the Pearl River — to meet the needs of enterprises in cargo shipment and accelerate the development of local industries.

Jiushi Pier occupies 476 meters of Zhaoqing Port's shoreline and has five 3,000-metric-ton general berths and ancillary facilities.