The Greater Bay Area Conference 2026 brought nearly 300 government officials, consular representatives, business executives, academics and policy specialists to Hong Kong on 3 September. The conference examined how Hong Kong can strengthen connections between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and international markets through finance, technology, commercial aerospace and education.
Co-organised by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition, the event was held under the theme “New Dynamics in Asia-Pacific Cooperation, New Opportunities for GBA Connectivity.” Key speakers included Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
The discussions took place as China advances its APEC 2026 programme and major cross-border projects linking Hong Kong and Shenzhen enter new stages of development.
Hong Kong’s role in a RMB15 trillion regional economy
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area comprises Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province. According to the Hong Kong government’s official GBA overview, the region had more than 88 million residents and GDP exceeding RMB15 trillion in 2025.
Conference speakers presented Hong Kong as a bridge between this regional economy and international markets. Leung Chun-ying called for stronger government-to-business and business-to-business interaction between Hong Kong and Guangdong, referring to recent cooperation in healthcare and cross-border data involving Hong Kong and Guangzhou’s Nansha district.
For international companies, Hong Kong’s potential value lies in combining access to mainland manufacturing and technology clusters with established financial, legal and professional services. Companies must nevertheless navigate different regulatory, tax, customs and data requirements when operating across Greater Bay Area jurisdictions.
APEC 2026 puts Hong Kong and Shenzhen in focus
Chief Executive John Lee connected the conference with China’s APEC 2026 host year. Shenzhen will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, while Hong Kong is scheduled to host the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in October.
The APEC Secretariat’s host-year announcement identifies openness, innovation and cooperation as central priorities. The two meetings will give Shenzhen and Hong Kong consecutive opportunities to present their financial, technological and industrial capabilities to Asia-Pacific policymakers and business leaders.
ChinaExpoHub previously examined the regional programme in its report on the Asia-Pacific Media Forum ahead of APEC 2026.
Finance was one of the conference’s three main panel themes. Executives and industry representatives discussed how deeper Asia-Pacific trade and investment links could reinforce Hong Kong’s financial services sector, particularly in fundraising, asset management and risk management.
Participants included representatives from UBS, Standard Chartered, Huatai Financial Holdings and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. HKEX Chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing joined the panel alongside financial executives and legislators.
The conference did not announce new financial programmes or transactions. Its value was primarily in bringing public- and private-sector decision-makers together ahead of the major APEC meetings.
Hetao project links Hong Kong research with Shenzhen industry
Technology discussions centred partly on the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. The development follows a “one zone, two parks” structure, with connected areas on both sides of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary.
The development plan for the Shenzhen park supports closer cooperation in cross-border research funding, venture capital and technology commercialisation.
John Lee described the Hong Kong park as a platform for combining Hong Kong’s research strengths with the mainland’s advanced manufacturing capacity. The objective is to create a more direct route from research and testing to production and international market entry.
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation is also advancing projects in the Northern Metropolis and San Tin Technopole. Its innovation and technology development plan identifies artificial intelligence, data science, life and health technology, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing as priority sectors.
A separate panel examined cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in commercial aerospace. Participants considered how Hong Kong’s universities, capital markets and international networks could complement Shenzhen’s electronics, manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities.
No specific aerospace investments were announced. However, the discussion pointed to possible opportunities in satellite technology, electronics, advanced materials, financing and research commercialisation.
AI education becomes an economic-development issue
The conference’s education panel considered how universities and training providers should adapt to the artificial intelligence era. The discussion focused on preparing students for AI-related employment and building a stronger talent pipeline for the Greater Bay Area.
This objective is connected to the planned Northern Metropolis University Town, where universities, research institutes and businesses are intended to operate in closer proximity. The Hong Kong government describes the project as a central part of its Northern Metropolis strategy in an official planning update.
For international universities and education-technology providers, potential areas of cooperation include joint research, industry-linked training, student exchanges and professional AI programmes. The commercial effect will depend on how quickly the planned facilities, cross-border arrangements and academic partnerships become operational.
What the conference means for international companies
The Greater Bay Area Conference 2026 did not produce disclosed investment agreements or transaction figures. Instead, it highlighted three areas in which Hong Kong is seeking a larger regional role:
- Connecting international capital with Greater Bay Area companies and projects
- Linking Hong Kong research with Shenzhen and Guangdong manufacturing
- Developing talent for AI, commercial aerospace and other technology-intensive industries
These priorities overlap with the international expansion agenda discussed at the Belt and Road Summit 2026 in Hong Kong. Together, the events show how Hong Kong is positioning its business conferences, financial services and innovation infrastructure around companies seeking access to mainland China and wider Asia-Pacific markets.
The practical significance will depend on whether these policy discussions lead to clearer cross-border procedures, accessible funding and research programmes, and commercially viable projects. International companies should monitor APEC-related business activities, the Hetao cooperation zone and Northern Metropolis development for more specific opportunities.
Source: China Daily Hong Kong report distributed through PR Newswire.
