This year marks the 5th anniversary since the release of the outline development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). In 2023, the GBA's total economic output exceeded 14 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion), marking a growth of 3.2 trillion yuan over the past five years. Despite covering less than 0.6% of the nation's land area, it has contributed one ninth of the country's total economic output.
The transportation infrastructure within the GBA has seen significant enhancements, with major cities now connected by basic urban rail lines enabling one-hour travel between them. The "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" science and technology cluster has consistently ranked second in the Global Innovation Index for four consecutive years. With the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the upcoming opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan link, which will allow for a 30-minute commute between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, cross-border connectivity is further strengthened.
Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao has intensified, notably with the advancement of four major platforms: Hengqin, Qianhai, Nansha, and Hetao. In 2023, the Pearl River Delta accounted for 21 out of the top 100 industrial districts in China, securing the top six positions nationally. Furthermore, among the 45 advanced manufacturing clusters identified by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Pearl River Delta claims seven, showcasing its prowess in advanced manufacturing.