As dawn breaks, the Zhuhai Highway Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is already a hive of activity. Hong Kong and Macao – registered private vehicles and those from the Chinese mainland flow in an orderly manner here, merging into the dynamic pulse of the Greater Bay Area for a new day. Dozens of kilometers away in Doumen District, the construction of the “Shangzhou Hefengli” new – style joint housing project is in full swing. By innovating the “multi – household joint construction” model, villagers’ dreams of “decent housing” are gradually being turned into reality. From the frontier window of opening – up to the grass – roots practice of rural revitalization, a vivid picture of in – depth reform advancement and rising opening – up levels is slowly unfolding in Zhuhai.
During the 14th Five – Year Plan period, Zhuhai vigorously carried forward the spirit of reform and opening – up, launched 580 measures to further comprehensively deepen reform, and was approved for 47 national and provincial – level reform pilots. It has created a number of reform cases that are the first of their kind in China in such fields as cross – border credit, talent mutual recognition, island protection, data development and low – altitude transportation. The total import and export volume of foreign trade exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan cumulatively, and the proportion of foreign – invested enterprises in the total number of enterprises ranked first in Guangdong Province. The gene of reform and opening – up rooted in its blood is continuously transforming into the core driving force for Zhuhai’s high – quality development.
Forging Ahead with Reform to Unleash New Momentum for All – round Development
Reform and opening – up are the root and soul of special economic zones. Over the past five years, Zhuhai has adhered to a systematic thinking to carry out reform and innovation actions in the special economic zone, innovated the “opening – up reform” model, and promoted the implementation and effectiveness of reform measures and their benefits to the people through a full – cycle supporting mechanism.
Empowered by reform, the implementation of national strategies has been strongly guaranteed. Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s entrustment, Zhuhai has closely focused on the new positioning of “Macao + Hengqin”, fully supported the inauguration of the Guangdong – Macao In – depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the implementation of the “frontier and second – line” management policy, steadily advanced infrastructure construction, industrial and technological cooperation, the connection of rules and mechanisms, and the integration of social and people’s livelihood, helping the cooperation zone successfully complete the first – phase objectives and tasks. At present, more than 30,000 Macao residents and over 7,600 Macao – funded enterprises have settled down and started businesses in Hengqin.
Taking advantage of the legislative power of the special economic zone, Zhuhai has assisted in formulating a number of regulations for the cooperation zone, and taken the lead in realizing the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in such fields as architecture, tourism, medical care and pharmacy between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. More than 1,600 Hong Kong and Macao talents have practiced cross – border in the cooperation zone. Cross – border handling of commercial registration and “one – place, two – registrations” have been realized between Hengqin and Macao. The exploration of mechanisms such as cross – border data flow and mutual recognition of credit evaluation has been continuously deepened, and the level of market integration has been significantly improved.
Focusing on scientific and technological innovation, Zhuhai has targeted the key bottlenecks in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. It took the lead in writing the innovation of application scenarios as an important starting point into the policies on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, established the “three scenario list” system, and promoted the efficient connection between technological supply and market demand. It has put into operation China’s first low – altitude air traffic management service platform, made forward – looking arrangements for future industries such as artificial intelligence and low – altitude economy, and steadily advanced the construction of the “Smart City in the Cloud” and the “City in the Sky”.
In the field of urban – rural integration, Zhuhai has promoted the integrated reform of the “Million – level Project for Rural Revitalization”, issued China’s first special legislation on rural landscape improvement, built China’s first rural entrepreneurship service center for Hong Kong and Macao youth, innovatively established a municipal – level “total cultivated land balance index pool”, constructed a three – level (district, town and village) entrusted operation mechanism for idle rural houses, and built a digital financial service platform for the “Million – level Project for Rural Revitalization” integrating cross – departmental and cross – field data collection, financing matching and enterprise credit enhancement, with a total credit line exceeding 30 billion yuan, effectively solving the financing problems of rural industries.
To strengthen itself by relying on the sea, Zhuhai has innovatively issued China’s first local regulation on island development, China’s first legislation on sea fishing safety, and Guangdong’s first management measures for island homestays. It has also innovatively implemented the “point – based island land supply” model. A series of reform measures with “small breakthroughs leading to great changes” have explored ways to break the bottlenecks in the innovative development of the marine economy.
The warmth of reform has also permeated into the details of people’s lives. The school – family – community collaborative education system has protected the healthy growth of young people. The “four – modernization” new – type residential buildings have reshaped the ecology of future communities. The Hengqin – Macao Vocational Skill Level Certification Alliance has made the “one exam for three certificates” a reality. The “Guangdong – Macao Social Security One – Stop Service Window (Hengqin Special Window)” has served more than 30,000 Guangdong and Macao residents. Reform is making a better life within easy reach.
Upgrading Opening – Up to Build a New Pattern of All – dimensional Connectivity
As a pioneer of reform and opening – up, Zhuhai has steadily promoted institutional opening – up, adopted a combined approach of “coordinated development of foreign trade, foreign investment, overseas investment, foreign economic cooperation and foreign exchange”, and established economic and trade relations with 220 countries and regions. During the 14th Five – Year Plan period, the total import and export volume of foreign trade exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan cumulatively. The scale of cross – border e – commerce imports and exports has maintained an average annual growth rate of over 100%. 51 Fortune Global 500 enterprises have invested and started businesses in Zhuhai. The proportion of foreign – invested enterprises in the total number of enterprises has reached 9.67%, ranking first in Guangdong Province.
The “hard connectivity” of infrastructure has supported the new pattern of opening – up. Zhuhai has accelerated the construction of a new economic and trade corridor via the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge, supported the implementation of policies such as “Hong Kong – registered vehicles traveling northward”, “Macao – registered vehicles traveling northward” and “Guangdong – registered vehicles traveling southward”. The passenger and vehicle flows of the bridge have repeatedly hit record highs. As a “golden corridor”, it has activated new momentum in the Greater Bay Area. The number of inbound and outbound passengers passing through the Zhuhai Highway Port of the bridge has exceeded 100 million, the total import and export value has exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan, and the vehicle flow has ranked first among all ports in China.
At the 15th National Games this year, Zhuhai, together with Hong Kong and Macao, successfully hosted the cross – border cycling race, connecting Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Macao and Hengqin. It vividly demonstrated the achievements of the “hard connectivity” of infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area. Moreover, through the deepening of regional integration by “soft connectivity” such as pre – inspection and seamless customs clearance, it has effectively promoted the “emotional connectivity” of residents in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, becoming an innovative practice of “one country, two systems” in the field of sports.
The level of more opening – up platforms has been comprehensively improved. The annual passenger flow of Gongbei Port has exceeded 100 million, ranking first in China. Zhuhai Airport has opened international cargo routes, with an annual passenger throughput of nearly 13 million. The integration and expansion of opening – up of Zhuhai Port have been approved. Gaolan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone has started operation, and Gaolan Port has opened a direct shipping route to Brazil.
The pattern of “two aviation exhibitions” has further polished the city’s business card. The exhibition area, transaction volume and media attention of the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition have repeatedly reached new highs, and the Asian Business Aviation Exhibition has continuously expanded cooperation space. These high – end platforms have not only brought direct economic and trade achievements, but also greatly enhanced Zhuhai’s international visibility and resource agglomeration capacity.
With the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge as the link and Zhuhai as the hinterland, a trade pattern serving Hong Kong and Macao, radiating western Guangdong and connecting the world has initially taken shape, and the “one – hour Greater Bay Area living circle” has turned from a vision into a reality.
“I work in Jinwan and Hengqin during the day and return to Macao to reunite with my family at night. Customs clearance is as convenient as shopping around,” said Lin Jincheng, a Macao youth. The oyster farm he built in Zhuhai has an annual output value of over 400 million yuan. In his opinion, it is the coordination of “hard connectivity” and “soft integration” that has built the “one – hour Greater Bay Area living circle” full of opportunities, helping Hong Kong and Macao youth better integrate into the overall national development.
The advantages of opening – up are also being transformed into industrial advantages. Zhuhai has joined hands with Hengqin and Macao to carry out joint investment promotion, promoting the landing of 110 projects in the cooperation zone, including Zhipu Huazhang and Ninebot Technology Equity Fund. By integrating Macao’s platform advantages, Hengqin’s policy advantages and Zhuhai’s spatial advantages, the proportion of the added value of the “four new” industries (new technologies, new industries, new formats and new models) in the regional GDP of the cooperation zone has increased to 59.4%.
Reform is an unceasing journey, and opening – up has no end. This dynamic city on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary is taking firm steps to gain new advantages and achieve new breakthroughs, striving to compose a new chapter in Zhuhai’s modernization drive.
From a “pioneer test field” for pilot reforms to a “new highland for opening – up” connecting the world, Zhuhai has always written a vivid practice of reform and opening – up with a clear strategic focus. On the one hand, with the courage of self – reform of “cutting the knife inward”, it resolutely removes deep – seated institutional and mechanism obstacles. On the other hand, with an open and inclusive mind of “embracing the world”, it gathers high – quality global resources such as capital, technology and talents.
To take the lead in demonstration and serve as a window is the due responsibility and achievement of special economic zones in the new era. Moving towards the 15th Five – Year Plan period, Zhuhai needs to show the spirit, courage and measures unique to special economic zones, achieve new breakthroughs in key areas such as steadily expanding institutional opening – up, deepening the reform of factor marketization allocation and promoting regional coordinated development, strive to form more replicable and promotable “Zhuhai experience”, and contribute more to the modernization drive of the whole country and Guangdong Province.
