Paul Chan Highlights Bay Area's Strategic Role as Gateway Between Mainland and Global Markets
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (陳茂波) delivered a video address at the 2026 Greater Bay Area Forum on Thursday, September 3, outlining how the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area can serve as a pivotal platform connecting the Chinese mainland with global markets. Chan emphasized that amid geopolitical shifts and technological transformation, Asian cooperation is entering a new phase, with the Greater Bay Area positioned to leverage its strengths in international finance, innovation and advanced manufacturing to drive Asia-Pacific integration.
Key Points
- The China-ASEAN economic bloc encompasses over 2 billion people and approximately US$23 trillion in economic output, with bilateral trade exceeding US$1 trillion for the first time last year
- The Greater Bay Area possesses four key advantages: an international financial center, a vibrant innovation and technology cluster, large-scale advanced manufacturing, and a multimodal transportation network
- In fintech, Hong Kong can offer diversified financing channels for economies at various development stages, supporting innovation, infrastructure and green transformation
- The Bay Area leads in embodied artificial intelligence with world-class AI research capabilities, rapid prototype-to-production capabilities, and Shenzhen's robot industry benefiting from a "half-hour supporting circle"
- Hong Kong will host the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in October, while the Leaders' Informal Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November
Why It Matters
The Greater Bay Area's integration strategy comes at a time when geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping capital flows and technology supply chains across Asia. By positioning Hong Kong as a bridge for financial interconnectivity, talent development and commercial spaceflight collaboration, the Bay Area could emerge as a counter-cyclical engine for regional economic resilience amid global volatility .
The Greater Bay Area's integration strategy comes at a time when geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping capital flows and technology supply chains across Asia. By positioning Hong Kong as a bridge for financial interconnectivity, talent development and commercial spaceflight collaboration, the Bay Area could emerge as a counter-cyclical engine for regional economic resilience amid global volatility .