China News Service, Guangzhou, November 12. Title: From the "National Founding Strategy" to the Greater Bay Area, how can Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao continue Mr. Sun Yat-sen's dream of revitalizing China?
——Exclusive interview with Sun Yat-sen’s brother Sun Mei, his great-great-grandson, and Sun Weiyong, Hong Kong’s representative to the National People’s Congress
China News Service reporters Guo Jun Zhang Lu
November 12, 2026, is the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Starting from Cuiheng Village, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are not only the hometown where Sun Yat-sen grew up, studied, practiced medicine, and initiated revolution, but also the place where many of his industrial ideas in the "National Founding Strategy" were planned. More than a hundred years have passed, and the plans for a large southern port, transportation network, and opening up to the outside world in the blueprint are now taking root in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
As the great-great-grandson of Sun Mei and a representative of the National People's Congress of Hong Kong, Sun Weiyong inherits the memories of his family and country passed down from generation to generation, and has long been concerned about the growth of young people in Hong Kong and Macao and the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area. Recently, China News Service's "East-West Question" conducted an exclusive interview with Sun Weiyong to explore Sun Yat-sen's profound connection with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and to listen to the echoes of the century-old vision.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. A variety of commemorative activities are held in many places in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. As the great-great-grandson of Sun Yat-sen, judging from family oral accounts and historical materials, what special position did Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have in Sun Yat-sen's life path and revolutionary ideals?
Sun Weiyong: From the perspective of family oral history materials and historical context, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao were fertile ground for Mr. Sun Yat-sen to nurture his original revolutionary aspirations and set sail for the dream of revitalizing China. His hometown in Xiangshan nourished his feelings for his family and country. Guangzhou was his core position in instigating revolution and saving the country. Hong Kong and Macao gave him a broad vision of compatibility between China and the West, allowing him to break away from the shackles of the old era and explore the path to national salvation and modern nation-building.
His ideological awakening, revolutionary practice, and nation-building ideas are all rooted in the hot land of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. This is not only his hometown, but also the spiritual source of modern China’s pursuit of national independence and modernization. It is one of the most profound and special spiritual carriers of inheriting the Sun Yat-sen spirit and the dream of continuous rejuvenation.
Reporter from China News Service: Mr. Sun Yat-sen proposed that "overseas Chinese are the mother of revolution", and Hong Kong and Macao were the key hubs for contacting overseas Chinese at home and abroad. Looking back at history, what inspirations have been left by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in uniting the Chinese people at home and abroad that are worth passing on?
Sun Weiyong: The assertion that “overseas Chinese are the mother of revolution” is still inspiring after a hundred years. When the national destiny is in crisis in modern times, countless overseas Chinese care about their homeland, donate money and efforts, and campaign to raise the spark of revolution. Hong Kong and Macao, relying on their unique geographical advantages, have become hubs and bridges connecting the mainland and overseas, and uniting Chinese people around the world.
This period of history has left us with two precious revelations: first, the common blood and unity of family and country are the most powerful force for national rejuvenation; second, the value of Hong Kong and Macao integrating internal and external affairs will last forever. In the past, Hong Kong and Macao connected overseas Chinese to support the country's salvation; now, under the practice of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong and Macao rely on the motherland and face the world, which is a key window to gather overseas Chinese, spread Chinese culture, and tell the story of China's rejuvenation to the outside world. Relying on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao platform, we can continue to unite the Chinese people at home and abroad and draw the largest concentric circles for national rejuvenation.
Reporter from China News Service: Dr. Sun Yat-sen outlined a grand blueprint for modernization in the "National Founding Strategy". Many concepts such as the "Southern Grand Port" and water and land transportation are focused on today's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As a descendant of the Sun family, how do you feel when you look back on this century-old blueprint?
Sun Weiyong: Looking back at the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, my heart is filled with emotion. A hundred years ago, when the country's national power was in decline, he wrote the "Strategy for the Founding of the Nation" and drew up a blueprint for the revitalization of a large southern port, water and land transportation, and industry. In the eyes of many people at the time, it was almost a fantasy.
A hundred years later, the Centennial Concept echoes the construction of the Bay Area today. The "Southern Grand Port" back then has become a world-class port group; the planned water and land channels have been upgraded to a super hub with three-dimensional sea, land and air rail connectivity; the industrial prosperity, opening up and regional coordination that Mr. Wang expected are gradually becoming a reality.
As a descendant of the Sun family, my deepest feeling is: a century-old wish has been fulfilled today. The prosperous Bay Area we see today is exactly the picture of prosperity that Mr. Xi worked hard for back then.
Reporter from China News Service: The synergy of port clusters, rail transit, and city clusters has become a reality in the Greater Bay Area, and many achievements have exceeded those originally imagined. What spiritual core does the construction of the Greater Bay Area inherit from the "National Founding Strategy"?
Sun Weiyong: The development of the Greater Bay Area is not only the fulfillment of the century-old project blueprint, but also the inheritance of the spiritual core of the "National Founding Strategy" for the times.
The first is the pattern of opening up to strengthen the country and integrating with the world, continuing Mr. Wang’s vision of the times to connect with the world and open up to rejuvenate the country; the second is to rejuvenate the country through hard work, with developed industries and solid infrastructure, and practice the pursuit of industrial power; the third is to coordinate development, strengthen the country and enrich the people, Guangdong and Hong Kong The complementary advantages and deep integration of the three places in Macao allow the development results to benefit the people, echoing Mr. Wang’s original intention of “the world is for the common good” and benefiting the people; fourth, he dares to be the first, continues to pioneer and try, explores the path for national development, and inherits Mr. Wang’s spirit of pioneering and exploration.
China News Service reporter: Standing at the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth, relying on the Greater Bay Area platform, how should we inherit Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s original intention of pursuing national reunification and revitalizing China, and further unite the youth of Hong Kong and Macao and overseas Chinese?
Sun Weiyong: Revitalizing China and reunifying the country are Mr. Sun Yat-sen’s lifelong wish and the mission of our generation. The Greater Bay Area is an important platform for us to gather our strength and continue our efforts.
On the one hand, it is necessary to dig deep into the rich cultural resources of Zhongshan in the Greater Bay Area, connect the revolutionary sites and memorial venues, create a youth study and cultural exchange brand in the three places, and enhance the national identity of Hong Kong and Macao youths and overseas Chinese youth; on the other hand, it is necessary to release the scientific and technological innovation, industry, and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, break down mobility barriers, and build a development stage for young people to take root here and realize their value. At the same time, we must use youth exchanges, overseas Chinese friendship, and people-to-people exchanges as links to unite all Chinese people around the world to share the mission of rejuvenation and promote the reunification of the motherland.
Reporter from China News Service: The main building of Sun Yat-sen's former residence in Cuiheng was funded by Sun Mei, designed and built by Sun Yat-sen. It was later handed over to the government for protection and use by the Sun family and became a memorial place shared by the whole people. What kind of inspiration does this family inheritance bring to you? On the road to national rejuvenation, what is the value of Sun Yat-sen’s spiritual banner?
Sun Weiyong: Our great ancestor Sun Mei poured money into supporting the revolution. The descendants of the Sun family handed over the family mansion to the government for protection and use, turning the private mansion into a spiritual place shared by the whole people. This family tradition tells us that the so-called inheritance is not to rely on the glory of the ancestors for personal gain, but to shoulder the righteousness of the family and the country and put "the world is for the common good" into action.
Over a century, Dr. Sun Yat-sen has become the spiritual banner shared by all Chinese people and the greatest common denominator that transcends regions and builds consensus. This spiritual flag can transcend regions and unite the power of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the Chinese people around the world. It is a driving force that inspires people to work hard and forge ahead. It also demonstrates the historical trend that both sides of the Taiwan Strait have the same roots and the country will eventually be reunified. Our generation should continue the aspirations of our ancestors, protect and pass on this spirit, and help the nation rejuvenate and completely reunify the motherland.
Interviewee profile:
Sun Weiyong, the great-great-grandson of Mr. Sun Yat-sen’s brother Sun Mei, is a Hong Kong representative to the National People’s Congress. He also serves as the executive director of the China Overseas Friendship Association, the director of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and the executive vice president of the Hong Kong General Association of the China Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification. Long-term commitment to serving the cause of patriotism and Hong Kong and exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan youth.
