MORE than 160 representatives — including political party leaders, think tank experts, and business figures — from over 40 countries gathered in Shenzhen for a flagship event highlighting China’s approach to coordinated regional development and the achievements realized through the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The two-day event concluded Thursday.

Under the theme “A Strategic Underpinning for a New Development Paradigm, a Demonstration Area for High-Quality Development, and a Pacesetter of Chinese Modernization,” the event featured story sharing, dialogues, field tours, and a science and technology achievement exhibition. Organizers said the event was designed to present a panoramic view of the GBA’s progress.

Foreign delegates joined Chinese officials, business representatives, and academics in discussions on the GBA’s role in the global landscape and ways to deepen cooperation with international partners.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson for the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the event serves as an important platform for introducing the Party’s governance philosophy and practices to foreign political parties.

Since its launch in 2017, the event has been held 19 times across 19 provincial-level regions in China, Hu noted. Shenzhen first hosted it in May 2018.

Amid growing global volatility and uncertainty, Hu said, China hopes to use the event to demonstrate how stronger domestic drivers can help the country navigate external challenges, while offering lessons that may prove useful to other nations.

He added that holding the event in Shenzhen also aims to draw greater attention to the Asia-Pacific region and to development and cooperation opportunities centered on the city, ahead of Shenzhen’s hosting of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. (SD News)