TECHNOLOGICAL innovation, the private economy, development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and people’s well-being are among the main focuses of Shenzhen deputies attending the annual session of China’s top legislature, which opens in Beijing today.

Deputy Gao Wen — an AI expert, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and director of the Pengcheng Lab — will propose a motion at this year’s session to strengthen the construction of national AI datasets and the development of “AI pioneer cities.” The motion draws successful practices in Shenzhen and other cities.

With over 2.6 million private firms, Shenzhen is hailed as China’s “first city of the private economy.”

Deputy He Jianfeng is most concerned with how to best promote the healthy, high-quality development of the private economy.

He, president of Shenzhen Investment Holdings, will urge the government to craft stronger policies and guidance for private enterprises entering international markets, establish a more robust overseas risk prevention and service system for private enterprises, enhance the development of foreign-related legal talent teams, and help private enterprises “go global together.”

Deputy Huang Xiqin — president of the Guangdong New Social Stratum Association and the Guozhonglian Group, a large appraisal and consulting firm — believes that to build the GBA into a world-class bay area and achieve the area’s coordinated development, it is essential to accelerate the integration of professional services in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

She is calling on the government to encourage cooperation among legal service institutions in the three regions, explore innovative models for cross-border legal services, expand the scope of practice for GBA lawyers, and integrate more legal resources from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to serve the development of the GBA.

During the annual session of the country’s top legislature, which will run until March 11, deputies will deliberate the work report of the government. They will also review the report on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and the 2025 draft plan.

Furthermore, they will deliberate work reports of the legislature’s Standing Committee, Supreme People’s Court, and Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

Yesterday, the annual session of China’s top political advisory body opened in Beijing. (Li Jing)