The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has an important strategic position in the new national development pattern. Standing on the 116th floor of Ping An Financial Center in Futian, Shenzhen, looking around for a week, you can have a panoramic view of the three places, and the weather is myriad. Behind us, the 10,000-ton freighter sailing from Nansha Port crossed the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and sailed to the sea; in front of us, the goods originating from the Comprehensive Free Trade Zone of Dongguan Humen Port were flying from Hong Kong International Airport to the world.
In 2022, the total economic volume of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will exceed RMB 13 trillion, which is one step closer to becoming a world-class bay area and a world-class urban agglomeration. This year, it carries more expectations—to become the strategic fulcrum of the new development pattern, the demonstration site of high-quality development, and the leading site of Chinese-style modernization.
As a great opportunity for deepening reform and opening up, how can Guangdong write this great article about the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area? Recently, the reporter went to Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai to find clues and answers from the front line of the economy.
Dagang Bridge builds a large channel
At the beginning of the rain, the blue sky in Guangzhou Port is full of clouds, and the sea breeze is hunting. Next to the Phase IV automated wharf in Nansha Port Area, under the tower cranes lined up, Beidou Navigation unmanned intelligent guided vehicles pass freely. There are many "most" here - the only large port in the world's maritime transportation history that has been prosperous for more than 2,000 years, the largest grain transit port in the country, the largest domestic trade container hub port... It is also an important automobile hub port in my country, Africa and Southeast Asia Airline hub port.
The port is an important hub and node linking domestic and foreign markets and unblocking the "dual cycle". It is also an important part of the infrastructure construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and has a strategic, fundamental and leading role. "As a transportation hub for my country's energy, raw material transportation and North-South commodity exchanges, Guangzhou Port will have a cargo throughput of 656 million tons in 2022, ranking fifth in the world; container throughput will be 24.86 million TEUs, ranking sixth in the world." Guangzhou Port Group Co., Ltd. Song Xiaoming, deputy general manager of the company, said.
From January to May this year, the cargo throughput and container throughput of Nansha Port Area increased by 4.0% and 6.7% respectively year-on-year, of which foreign trade containers increased by 10% year-on-year. In the first four months of this year, the comprehensive efficiency of berthing time of container ships in Guangzhou Port ranked first among major ports in the world.
As a new generation of smart ports, the fourth phase of the Guangzhou Port Nansha Port Area project is the world's first automated terminal using the Beidou navigation system and 5G communications, and is the first in the world to adopt a new generation of automated container terminal technology routes. According to reports, in the future, Guangdong will speed up the construction of Guangzhou International Shipping Hub, and build Guangzhou Port into a high-level opening-up portal hub in the new era.
Downstream from the Pearl River estuary, the interconnection of the Greater Bay Area is further accelerating. Just on the 11th, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel Submarine Tunnel was successfully closed, and the cities of Shenzhen and Zhongshan "officially joined hands" at the bottom of Lingdingyang. Going further south, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is lying on the waves, winding vigorously under the sunlight.
"After the bridge opened to traffic in 2018, we became the first company to supply fresh seafood to the Hong Kong market through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Benefiting from the continuous optimization of the bridge and port customs clearance environment, our company has supplied fished and farmed seafood to Hong Kong in recent years The business has grown steadily, and currently accounts for about 25% of the Hong Kong market. At present, more than 15,000 tons of seafood are exported through the bridge port, and the export value exceeds 1.5 billion yuan." said Weng Xipeng, general manager of Zhuhai Haimiao Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.
System and Mechanism Connected to Promote Development
"You can start a Hengqin enterprise without leaving 'Macau'." On June 11, Liang Yiyi, the business development director of Tianwang Zhikong Technology (Zhuhai Hengqin) Co., Ltd. from Macau, told reporters: "If you want to invest in the mainland, before I am worried that I don’t understand the commercial registration system here, including what materials to prepare. The mechanism of “cross-border processing, one place, two notes” for commercial registration in the cooperation zone has solved these problems well. Without changing the legal norms of Qin and Macao Under the premise of this, through the docking of the access mechanisms of the two government departments and cross-border linkage services, it is possible to realize the "one-stop" process for starting a business in Macao, which greatly facilitates cross-border investors."
A few days ago, Guangdong Province announced the first batch of 20 typical cases of promoting the connection mechanism of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: cross-border appropriation and use of financial scientific research funds, "Hong Kong-Macau Medicine and Device Link"...the in-depth promotion of the "soft connectivity" of the rule mechanism, Turning "differences in systems" into "benefits of systems" will deepen the cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and enter a new stage of integrated development.
In the Dongguan-Hong Kong International Airport Center, a batch of circuit boards will go through customs formalities, aviation security checks, and boards in a "one-stop" manner, and will be shipped directly to Hong Kong Airport for installation by sea, and will be sent to the world.
On April 18 this year, the airport center was officially put into operation. As the country's first cross-border sea-air combined transport project that directly reaches the airside of the airport, the airport center is the first cross-border security inspection front in the country. By setting up a Hong Kong airport cargo station in Dongguan, the export cargo Consolidation, aviation security inspection, palletizing, and imported cargo unpacking and tallying functions are extended to the mainland. The goods imported and exported by enterprises through Hong Kong Airport can realize "one-stop" direct delivery and direct loading in the airport center.
"Customs clearance of goods exported through the airport center is much faster. From loading goods to completing all customs declarations, inspections and other links and transporting them to Hong Kong Airport, the whole process takes less than one day, and the operating cost is reduced by 30%." Huahai Technology Logistics Supply Chain (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. general manager Cao Haosheng said.
According to Cai Yiwei, deputy director of the Comprehensive Business Department of Huangpu Customs, it is estimated that after the first phase is fully completed in 2025, the annual cargo handling capacity will exceed 1 million tons, allowing more "silky" made in Guangdong to fly around the world.
The rule of law is the best business environment. Among the architectural forests in Qianhai, Shenzhen, the 283-meter-high "U"-shaped building Zhuoyue Qianhai No. 1 is eye-catching, and the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration is here.
As the first arbitration institution in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration was founded in 1983, creating many precedents such as hiring overseas arbitrators and merging Chinese arbitration institutions. After the official addition of the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Arbitration Center" in 2021, it will continue to deepen cooperation with Hong Kong and Macau and build a global international arbitration center.
"The cost of transnational litigation is high, the cycle is long, and it consumes a lot of money for both parties. Qianhai International Commercial Mediation Center has established a team of international mediators from more than 30 countries and regions. The dispute quickly disappeared, providing legal support for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the construction of the 'Belt and Road'." Wen Guihe, executive chairman and secretary-general of Shenzhen Qianhai International Commercial Mediation Center, gave an example, such as business loan financial disputes, less than 1 The mediation can be completed within a week, and the compliance rate reaches 96%.
In 2022, the parties to arbitration cases at the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration will involve 38 countries and regions, with a total dispute amount of RMB 127.2 billion, ranking first in Asia and among the top three in the world. Up to now, the parties to the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration have covered 137 countries and regions, and the arbitrators have covered 114 countries and regions.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship break new ground
A market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationalized business environment creates a strong "gravitational field" for local high-quality development.
Land Juhani, a manufacturing expert from Finland, arrived in Foshan recently to take charge of the newly built ANDRITZ (Foshan) Intelligent Manufacturing Co., Ltd. project.
"The project was put into production in less than a year, and the 'China Speed' is amazing." He said that the project mainly produces core components in the fields of feed, biofuel, pulp and paper, etc., with an estimated annual output value of over 150 million yuan. Previously, the company only had the technology and business of evaporator heating plates in the factory in Hungary. "The Foshan factory is not a simple copy, but an all-round process upgrade." Zhu Hani said that if Foshan produces better technology and products, it will also It will feed back European factories.
"A healthy business environment is like sunshine, rain and dew and fertile soil." Andritz Chief Operating Officer Miao Peiyun said, "Our global headquarters in Austria has always included China's business as an important layout, and continued to expand the Chinese team; the domestic team is also Continue to increase investment in research and development to develop new technologies and products."
Not only for foreign talents, but also for Hong Kong and Macao compatriots in the Greater Bay Area. Arriving at the North District of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth DreamWorks, the roofs of colorful buildings are covered with green plants, and the big red sign "E hub" on the glass exterior wall breaks into the eye. "This place provides space for the transformation of the achievements of enterprises and scientific research institutions with good growth and innovation, helps entrepreneurs realize 'from 1 to 10', and creates opportunities for the development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong youth." General Manager of Shenzhen Qianhai Park Operation Co., Ltd. Yang Siwei said.
"I came to Shenzhen in 2021. The North District officially opened in July last year, and I settled in under the introduction of a friend. DreamWorks provided us with office space, talent apartments, and can apply for various entrepreneurial subsidies." Hong Kong designer, Yuanjue Culture The founder of Technology Co., Ltd., Deng Zhuoyue, is wearing a white shirt, with two cute and cute brooches of ethnic minority cartoon dolls on his chest. "This is the IP I designed. It is inspired by traditional Chinese paper-cuts and New Year pictures. The 56 dolls wear different national costumes. The derivative products include pillows and decorative paintings."
"Last year was the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. I held an open-air exhibition in Hong Kong to let Hong Kong people have a deeper understanding of our country and nation." Deng Zhuo said, "Now our whole family has come to Shenzhen to settle down, hoping to gather more Shenzhen and Hong Kong artists. , the power of designers, and create more new projects through new forms and new ideas.”
At present, 5 entrepreneurial accelerators have settled in the North District of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Dream Works, and a total of 139 entrepreneurial teams have settled in, including 57 Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and international teams. The industry direction covers artificial intelligence, supply chain management, digital economy, and professional services. and other fields.