Greater Bay Area Conference 2023 will take place on Nov 22.

Greater Bay Area Conference 2023 will take place on Nov 22.
Examining opportunities in GBA-ASEAN collaboration

HONG KONG, 22 Nov, 2023 — Co-organized by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition, the Greater Bay Area Conference will be held on Nov 22 in Hong Kong. Running on the theme of “When GBA Meets ASEAN — One Heart and One Mind”, the conference focuses on the emerging opportunities and challenges of cooperation across various sectors between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Keynote speeches will be delivered by a stellar line-up of top-notch speakers including Mr. C Y Leung, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Mr. John KC Lee, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. Li Yongsheng, acting commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mme. Hou Yanqi, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN; and Mr. Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State (deputy minister) of the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia. Ms. Lu Xinning, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will attend the conference as one of the guests of honor.

The event is expected to draw together industry heavyweights to share their insights on the GBA and ASEAN's collaborative prospects and how to leverage their strengths to achieve mutual development. There will also be three panel discussions. The event will be held both online and onsite.

According to recent research, Hong Kong is the most favored overseas listing destination for ASEAN companies, with 84 ASEAN based companies already listed on the HKEX. In July, HKEX and the Indonesian Stock Exchange signed a Memorandum of Understanding, providing more opportunities for cross-border listings between companies from both regions.

The first panel discussion on “Empowering Sustainable Development: Exploring Green Finance Market in the GBA and ASEAN” is supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Dr. Patrick Lau, deputy executive director of HKTDC, will deliver the special address. Ms. Irina Fan, director of research of HKTDC, will moderate the session. Mr. Calvin C. Chan, managing director of CCB International corporate finance, Mr. Patrick Ip, managing director of China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund, Mr. Brian Lam, chief sustainability officer and chief financial officer of UOB Hong Kong, and Ms. Anna Ng, regional head of operations for East Asia and the Pacific and Head of Office for HKSAR, International Finance Corporation, will explore the challenges and opportunities of dual listings for the GBA and ASEAN, and the integration of green finance and Web3 technologies.

With the emergence of the “Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone”, Hong Kong and Shenzhen will cooperate extensively, injecting new vitality into the development of science and technology innovation in the GBA. The ASEAN region is also accelerating its green transition.

The second panel is themed “Focusing on Green Technology Used in Basic Life Necessities: ‘Clothing, Food, Housing and Transportation’”. Mr. Da Liu, managing director of CR-CP Life Science Fund, will moderate the panel discussion. Ms. Stephanie Chan, Brand, Marketing, Business Development and Partnerships of DETERMINANT, Dr. Tony Ip, founder of Tony Ip Green Architects Limited, Mr. Philip Ng, vice chairman of Green Development Institute, and Mr. Gordon Tam, founder and CEO of Farm66 Investment Limited, will discuss measures to promote high-end industrial restructuring, establish green supply chains, and integrate green technology in housing and transportation.

The chapter on Jointly Developing a Cultured Bay Area in the Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area specially points to improving the protection and preservation of key cultural heritage sites.

The final panel discussion is themed “Art & Culture Preservation for Sustainable Tourism: GBA-ASEAN Collaborations in Heritage Conservation”. Prof. Desmond Hui, professor and head of Department of Art and Design of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong will be the moderator. Ms. Jin Ma, deputy general manager (in charge) of Cultural Tourism Product Development Center of China Travel International Investment HK LTD., Ms. Darany Phommavongsa, director general of Tourism Management Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos, Mr. Brian Yuen, deputy director of Museum Operations of Hong Kong Palace Museum, Dr. Chaozhi Zhang, UNESCO Chair of Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites will center on how the GBA and ASEAN can collaborate to preserve diverse artistic and cultural heritage while fostering sustainable tourism and the role of digital technology in enhancing the preservation of art and culture.

The expected attendance is over 300 onsite and online delegates, including C-level senior executives from Fortune Global 500 and China 500 companies, think tanks, academics, media, and experts from across Asia’s public and private sectors.

About China Daily
Founded in 1981, China Daily reaches 440 million readers and users worldwide through diversified platforms, including newspapers, websites, mobile devices, and social media. As of August 2023, the number of China Daily’s followers has reached 64 million on Weibo, 20 million on the WeChat blog platform, 105 million on Facebook, and 4.2 million on Twitter.

About the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable
The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia, providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to Asia’s economic, business and social development. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding among China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia.

About the Hong Kong Coalition
The Hong Kong Coalition was founded by 1,500 initiators from all sectors of Hong Kong society, with Mr. Tung Chee Hwa and Mr. Leung Chun Ying assuming the roles of chief convener, Mr. Tam Yiu Chung serving as secretary-general, and Ms. Maria Tam Wai Chu and 10 other members holding the posts of deputy secretary-general. The coalition held a press conference on May 5, 2020, declaring its official establishment. The aims of the Hong Kong Coalition are: Uphold “one country, two systems”, support Hong Kong to overcome difficulties, and start afresh for future brilliance.

Media Contact:
Ms. Jing Fang
Tel: (852) 3465 5451
Email: jingfang@chinadailyhk.com