Greater Bay Area Conference 2023, co-organized by China Daily and Hong Kong Coalition, was held on Wednesday in Hong Kong. Themed “When GBA meets ASEAN - One Heart and One Mind”, the conference brought together government officials, industry leaders and academics to discuss emerging opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attended the event, among other dignitaries, and delivered speeches.

「2023大灣區論壇」將於11月22日舉行，共同探索大灣區與東盟合作機遇 中國日報攜手香港再出發大聯盟將於11月22日在香港舉辦「2023大灣區論壇」。此次論壇以「大灣區攜手東盟，共謀發展、共創繁榮」為主題，旨在探索大灣區與東盟的合作機遇，展望前景幷支持大灣區同東盟國家開展更緊密、更深層次的交流合作。 論壇邀請包括中國人民政治協商會議全國委員會副主席梁振英先生，中華人民共和國香港特別行政區行政長官李家超先生，中華人民共和國外交部駐香港特別行政區特派員公署署理特派員李永勝先生，中華人民共和國駐東盟使團特命全權大使侯艷琪女士，柬埔寨旅遊部國務秘書（副部長）帕克•索克姆先生等嘉賓作主旨演講，中央人民政府駐香港特別行政區聯絡辦公室副主任盧新寧女士將作爲主禮嘉賓之一出席論壇會議。 此次論壇設立三場研討會，業界專家學者將對粵港澳大灣區與東盟國家之間如何抓住機遇，實現優勢互補，並推動協同發展的話題進行探討，分享真知灼見。論壇以線上線下相結合的方式進行。 據研究報告指出，香港是最受東盟公司歡迎的海外上市地，目前已有84家總部設在東盟的公司在香港交易所上市。且在今年 7月，港交所與印尼證券交易所簽署合作備忘錄，為兩地企業跨境上市提供了更多的合作機遇。 首場專題研討會與香港貿發局合作，圍繞主題「賦能可持續發展：探索大灣區與東盟的綠色金融市場」展開討論，香港貿易發展局副總裁劉會平先生將發表致辭，香港貿易發展局研究總監范婉兒女士主持，建銀國際企業融資部董事總經理陳柏灝先生，中國東盟投資合作基金董事總經理葉家強先生，大華銀行（香港）財務總監兼可持續發展主管林詒亮先生，國際金融公司東亞及太平洋地區運營主管兼香港辦公處主管黃麗珊女士擔任演講嘉賓，探索雙重上市為大灣區與東盟帶來的機遇與挑戰，以及綠色金融與 Web3.0技術的融合發展。 隨著《河套深港科技創新合作區深圳園區發展規劃》的出台，深港兩地優勢互補協同發展，為大灣區的科創發展注入了新活力。與此同時，東盟亦努力加快綠色轉型的進程。 第二場專題研討會以「聚焦『衣食住行』中的綠色科技創新運用」為主題，華潤正大生命科學基金董事總經理柳達先生擔任主持人，十如仕品牌營銷及市場拓展總監陳凱怡女士，葉頌文環保建築師事務所創始人葉頌文博士，綠色發展研究院副院長吳劍林先生，綠芝園創辦人兼行政總裁譚嗣籇先生擔任演講嘉賓，探討推動產業結構高端化，打造綠色供應鏈的相關措施，以及綠色科技在住房及交通等領域的應用。 《粵港澳大灣區文化和旅遊發展規劃》中的「共建人文灣區」章節特別提到要做好重大文化遺產的保護和傳承。東盟具有語言多元化、信仰多元化的特性，在更可持續、創新和數字技術方面具有鮮明稟賦和極大潛力。 最後一場專題研討會以「可持續旅遊中的藝術與文化遺產保護：大灣區與東盟的合作開拓新思路」為主題，香港恒生大學藝術設計系課程主任許焯權教授擔任主持人，香港中旅國際投資有限公司産品中心負責人馬進女士，老撾新聞、文化和旅遊部旅遊管理司司長達拉妮•馮瑪翁薩女士，香港故宮文化博物館副館長（博物館營運）袁貺霖先生，聯合國教科文組織名錄遺産地可持續旅遊教席主持人張朝枝博士將作為演講嘉賓圍繞大灣區與東盟如何在促進可持續旅遊的同時，合作推進文化遺產保護和維護藝術的多樣性，以及數字科技如何加强藝術和文化保護等方面展開討論。 此次論壇預計匯聚《財富》世界500強企業和中國500強企業的高級管理人員、專家學者、媒體及亞洲企業精英人士逾300位嘉賓現場參會。   有關中國日報 中國日報是中國國家英文日報，是中國與世界交流信息的重要渠道，已形成全球化、分眾化、多語種、全媒體傳播體系。截至2023年8月，全媒體用戶總數超過4.4億，中國日報用戶端目前全球下載用戶超過4100萬，是我國唯一下載量過千萬的英文新聞用戶端；微博粉絲數超過6491萬；微信訂閱人數達2027萬；臉譜帳號粉絲數超過1.05億，位居全球媒體帳號粉絲數第二位；推特帳號粉絲數約420萬。 有關中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇 中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇（www.cdroundtable.com）, 創建於2010年，旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台，圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解，以增進中國與亞洲國家和西方國家的交流和理解。迄今，在港澳和亞太多個國家和地區舉辦超110屆，逾6萬名決策精英參會。 有關香港再出發大聯盟 「香港再出發大聯盟」成立於2020年 5月 5 日，由董建華先生、梁振英先生擔任總召集人，譚耀宗先生任秘書長，譚惠珠女士等11人擔任副秘書長，並由全港 1500 多位社會各界人士擔任共同發起人。「香港再出發大聯盟」的宗旨是：堅持「一國兩制」，推動香港戰勝艱難，重新出發，再創輝煌。 媒體垂詢： 方小姐 電話：(852) 3465 5451 電郵：jingfang@chinadailyhk.com

Links: Both regions to receive more benefits Hong Kong, as a super-connector and a value-adder, is well poised to play a crucial role in furthering cooperation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, both of which are among the world's most economically vibrant regions, prominent political and business leaders said on Wednesday at the Greater Bay Area Conference 2023. The Greater Bay Area enjoys close geographical proximity, cultural ties and trade connections with the 10-member Southeast Asian grouping, offering immense potential for increased cooperation, they said. This year's conference, co-hosted by China Daily and Hong Kong Coalition, was themed "When GBA Meets ASEAN — One Heart and One Mind" to explore the emerging opportunities in the two regions. It comprised three panel discussions focusing on green finance, the integration of green technology in daily life, and the preservation of art and culture for sustainable tourism. The hybrid conference, with online and offline participation, brought together hundreds of distinguished guests, including government officials, industry and business leaders, academics and representatives of various sectors. In a keynote address, Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is competitive in many aspects, and cities in Guangdong province and the ASEAN member states stand to benefit greatly by leveraging the SAR's pivotal role as a super-connector. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that Hong Kong can facilitate people-to-people exchanges, promote green finance and financial technology initiatives, and foster cooperation in public services between the Greater Bay and ASEAN. When the Greater Bay meets ASEAN with one heart and one mind, they can surely forge a promising future for their people and economies, he said. Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said that through the successful implementation of numerous collaborative projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, the ASEAN member states have witnessed remarkable progress in terms of infrastructure development and social well-being. The Greater Bay Area is a vital part of China's modernization journey, and deepening ASEAN's involvement in the area will help build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, Qu said. Jane Lee Ching-yee, deputy secretary-general of Hong Kong Coalition, said that in order to ensure the continuous success of the China-ASEAN partnership, it is crucial for Hong Kong, as a reputable super-connector, to effectively link the Greater Bay with ASEAN, generating substantial benefits for both regions. 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, said that with the strong support of the motherland and a close connection with the world, Hong Kong can play at least four roles — a facilitator of trade and investment, a promoter of regional connectivity, the spearhead of innovative cooperation and a contributor to people-to-people bonds — in strengthening cooperation between the Greater Bay, or even the whole of China, and ASEAN. Hou Yanqi, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN, said that China-ASEAN cooperation has become the most shining example of the success and robustness of regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

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

Technology and innovation can help Southeast Asian economies to promote food security, green development and social equity, experts said at a regional forum held May 12 in Jakarta. Participants in the 2023 ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum also stressed the need for collaboration among various stakeholders across the region in addressing pressing issues. The two-day forum was held after the 42nd ASEAN summit at Labuan Bajo in eastern Indonesia. The forum’s theme, “ASEAN Matters — Centre of Growth, Opportunities & Prosperity”, was organized by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KADIN), the ASEAN Economic Club, and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia. It was supported by the Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur and the World Business Chamber. Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the creative industry not only contributes to regional GDP but also creates jobs. Uno, who delivered a special address, said that in Indonesia, digital transformation, along with financial assistance to improve information and communication technology infrastructure, have helped boost the creative industry. Education reforms have helped nurture creative talent. Albert Oung, executive council member and Green Economy chairperson of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s Sustainable Business Network, said innovative technological breakthroughs can help revitalize the ASEAN economy in the post-pandemic era. “What we need to do is pick the right projects with the right formula and make it ASEAN,” Oung said in an interview held on the sidelines of the forum. Ravindra Ngo, founder and CEO of Singapore-based think tank The Asian Network, said cooperation is one of the main themes of the forum. Ngo, who moderated the afternoon discussion on food security and climate sustainability, summed up one of the key points of the discussion: that stakeholders — including government, business and civil society — must collaborate to promote sustainable policies and practices to mitigate environmental risk and improve access for all. “The three Ps — people, planet and profit — are not enough. We need to add purpose — the purpose to make and contribute to a better world,” Ngo said. He said ASEAN also needs to use technologies and innovations, such as developing a climate-smart agriculture, that will help to make the shift towards agricultural and food systems that are “more resilient, sustainable and productive”. Gavin Chong, president and chief strategy officer of agribusiness firm Gokomodo Indonesia, said the agriculture industry needs long-term solutions. One way to promote a sustainable agriculture sector is to make farming profitable, which would encourage the younger generations to venture into farming. “How can we address that? Let's talk about prices on a monthly basis. Perhaps different associations representing various countries in ASEAN could have a dialogue on a monthly basis to talk about fertilizer prices as one example. Stay in touch on talking about price trends,” Chong said. Joseph D’ Cruz, CEO of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, said discussions on agricultural sustainability must include diverse perspectives. In the case of the palm oil industry, D’ Cruz said that the challenge is how to build a sector that meets the demands of climate, sustainability and environmental preservation without sacrificing social development, livelihoods and providing a decent life for rural communities. He added that addressing these concerns also requires that addressing the challenge of providing food that is affordable and sustainable. “It's not an easy question to answer, but I think if we come back to the policy questions we're discussing around food security and climate change and where ASEAN goes in the future, recognizing the need to build a way to look at these realistically from a systems perspective is absolutely critical,” he said. Chhem Siriwat, an advisor for the Council for the Development of Cambodia, said in a panel discussion that digital transformation “is not just about technology, but it’s about change. It’s about a change in mindset, which will lead eventually to a change in behavior”. He said the three main pillars of digital transformation are culture, workforce and technology, and described his experience in helping to craft a national digital technology transformation roadmap for Cambodia. “We came up with three suggestions, the first being to appoint transformational leaders; to be a transformational leader, you have to be innovative, risk-taking,” he said. He added that it’s also important to invest in human resources and digital infrastructure. Yohanes Lukiman, chairperson of KADIN’s Permanente Committee for Asia Pacific, said digital transformation can also support small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those in the informal economy. Lukiman, who is also the board member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), said ABAC is promoting the use of QR codes as an alternative payment system. “We know that there’s a huge informal economy in ASEAN and we also know that those in the informal economy can’t be paid by (conventional) digital means,” he said. The QR code program “will be a game changer in the digital economy,” Lukiman said. “An Indonesian tourist can go to Pattaya (in Thailand) and buy food from a roadside vendor using his Indonesian e-wallet. MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) in the informal economy can adopt this QR code,” he said.

Emerging as a new growth center of world economy, Southeast Asia has to enhance connectivity and joint action to overcome challenges including post-pandemic recovery, geopolitical tension, climate change and digital disruption, according to participants in a regional forum held on May 12. Arsjad Rasjid, chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), said the ASEAN economy has a “growing impact on global trade”. With a steady rise in GDP for the past few years, ASEAN is now the world's fifth largest economy and the fourth largest exporting region, Rasjid said in his welcome speech at the 2023 ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum being held in Jakarta. This has “major implications” on the future of investment inflows and resilience of the global supply chain. “ASEAN is no longer a regional power which sits on the sidelines of the global economy,” Rasjid said, alluding to this year’s theme of the ASEAN summit. ASEAN countries are “broadly regarded as the future base of global production and consumption, or as (the Indonesian) government has defined it, as a new epicenter of growth.” Indonesia is this year’s rotating chair of the regional bloc. The two-day forum is held after the 42nd ASEAN summit at Labuan Bajo in eastern Indonesia. The forum’s theme “ASEAN Matters — Centre of Growth, Opportunities & Prosperity”, was organized by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KADIN), ASEAN Economic Club, and Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia. It was supported by the Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur and the World Business Chamber. Rasjid, who also serves as KADIN’s chairman, said it is in the best interests of ASEAN to approach the future of its development with “a spirit of togetherness, togetherness and cooperation as a solid community”. Michael Yeoh, chairman of the forum and KSI’s president, said in his introductory speech that ASEAN, as an organization, can only remain relevant to the next generation if there is a “greater sense of purpose, a greater sense of belonging to ASEAN”. This is why people to people connectivity needs to be prioritized. He said this can be done through the conduct of more educational and youth exchanges among ASEAN members. Rasjid and Yeoh’s speeches was a prelude to the morning session which focused on ASEAN connectivity. ALSO READ: ASEAN leaders confident in region being 'epicentrum of growth' One of the panel discussants is Kirida Bhaopichitr, director of Economic Intelligence Service at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Kirida said climate change, increasing US-China competition and how artificial intelligence is threatening job security are among the major challenges that the region has to overcome. She said connectivity and collaboration will help the region “survive through this perfect storm”. In dealing with geopolitical tension, for example, Kirida said ASEAN needs to focus on building a resilient supply chain in the region that will make ASEAN a “very attractive” investment destination. She also cited climate change, and how this is “not an individual country issue”. “When there’s forest fire in Indonesia, it affects all the way to Singapore (and) Thailand,” Kirida said, alluding to trans-boundary haze. “If we don’t collaborate to mitigate and adapt to climate change… I don't think we will survive very long.” Kirida said AI is “very disruptive… How can we improve our skills and our technology together in order to weather the storm? I don't think any one country can do that. We don't have enough resources. We just want to contribute more resources together. This kind of connectivity will make us go forward”. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, secretary general of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, said building trust, transparency and co-creation are key to “people-centered collaboration”. He said climate change and environmental degeneration, for example, can’t be resolved by a single country. But by working together, ASEAN and its partner countries can find an “actionable solution”. Lee Sheung Yuen, director general of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, discussed the close relationship between the special administrative region and ASEAN, having been major trading partners for the last 12 years. Hong Kong and ASEAN also have an existing economic and technology cooperation program. Lee said Hong Kong hopes to contribute more in the partnership with ASEAN through its financial, professional services, logistics and transportation sectors. Delia Albert, former Philippine secretary of foreign affairs, has recalled an old report which stated that the concept of ASEAN as a community only exists among academics, journalists and those who participate in ASEAN-related activities. Albert said the idea of a “shared values toward a shared destiny remains to be a wish to be fulfilled. That is the greatest challenge that ASEAN faces”.