Li Jiachao: “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” innovation cluster ranks first in the world for two consecutive years

China News Service, Hong Kong, October 2 (Xinhua) Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said on the 2nd that the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" innovation cluster ranked first in the world for two consecutive years, fully demonstrating the strength and potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in innovation and technology. The Hong Kong SAR government will continue to promote the in-depth integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and talent chain in the Greater Bay Area, and actively cultivate new productive forces.

On the same day, the 10th Global Greater Bay Area Summit Forum and the 2026 Greater Bay Area Annual Most Influential Award Ceremony were held in Hong Kong. Li Jiachao delivered a video speech.

Li Jiachao said in his speech that the theme of this forum is "Riding on the Trend and Building a Smart Future", which echoes the current development trend of Hong Kong. "Riding on the momentum" means seizing the important opportunities in the first year of the country's "15th Five-Year Plan"; "building the future smartly" means leading the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with innovation, technology and green, and jointly building a smart bay area and a green bay area.

He said that Hong Kong will continue to consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping, trade center and international aviation hub, build an international innovation and technology center, and create a high-end gathering place for international high-end talents; accelerate the construction of the northern metropolitan area, and achieve the integrated development of education, technology, and talents with the development goals of university town, innovation and technology, industry, livability, industry, and tourism.

When talking about promoting the coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area, Li Jiachao pointed out that cooperation in scientific and technological innovation will be strengthened, "hard connectivity" of infrastructure will be promoted, and "soft connectivity" of rules and mechanisms will be deepened to achieve "heart-to-heart connectivity" for the residents of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. At the same time, we will make every effort to develop green finance and green technology, work with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to promote low-carbon transformation, contribute to the country's "double carbon" goal, and become a new driving force for sustainable economic development in the Greater Bay Area.

Li Jiachao said that under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has both national and international opportunities. It can not only serve the country's high-level opening up, but also serve as a "super contact" and "super value-added person" for mainland enterprises in the Greater Bay Area to go global. Hong Kong will continue to actively leverage its advantages in internal and external connections, integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and deepen international exchanges and cooperation.