Shenzhen, the nation’s tech powerhouse, has made great strides since 2019, when the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was implemented, said Shenzhen authorities on Wednesday.
An official from Shenzhen’s Development and Reform Commission said, “Shenzhen, as a key node in the Greater Bay Area, has notched up great achievements in facilitating the region’s development as a regional technology and innovation hub.”
He highlighted the construction of a comprehensive national science center in the region, where the emphasis is on letting innovative enterprises take the lead within a matrix designed to transform scientific and technological results.
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Over the past six years, the city’s gross spending on research and development has seen a rise from 4.2 percent to 6.46 percent of the city’s gross domestic product, with business investment accounting for 93.3 percent.
Shenzhen is China’s top-ranked city for international patent applications under the International Patent System.
Efforts are underway to consolidate connectivity with other cities in the Greater Bay Area, said the official, highlighting initiatives promoting integrated development with cities such as Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Dongguan, and Huizhou.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is recognized as a vital strategic partner of the city, the official said, adding that several Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation zones have been streamlining the creation of collaborative projects, and that businesses and will continue to make progress in this area.
The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has 9,200 branches of Hong Kong enterprises, while the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone now has five research centers established by top Hong Kong universities.
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As a “World Smart City”, Shenzhen’s land ports are bustling with residents from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions looking for business opportunities, employment, and novel leisure experiences.
Shenzhen’s achievements in connecting with Belt and Road countries were also highlighted, including its capabilities as an international aviation hub facilitating access to China for global businesses.
Shenzhen continues to gain momentum as it prepares to capitalize on future opportunities arising from a new chapter in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), said the official.
Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com
