Forging the Future Together: Deepening a New Chapter in UK-GBA Economic and Trade Cooperation

In an era of advancing globalisation and shifting economic landscapes, strengthening regional cooperation and sharing in development opportunities have become vital to sustaining growth and prosperity. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) stands as one of China’s most open and economically vibrant regions. With its strategic location, innovative industries, and robust infrastructure, it is rising as an important pillar of growth leading global economic development. The United Kingdom, a major economy, global financial centre and hub for technological innovation, brings deep commercial heritage, world-leading research capabilities and extensive international market networks. When the “GBA opportunity” meets “UK excellence”, it inevitably produces an ember of partnership and opens a scene of mutual benefit.

In recent years, with active international business engagement, the construction of the GBA has attained clear results. Its total economic output has risen from RMB 10 trillion in 2018 to over RMB 14.3 trillion in 2024, contributing roughly one-ninth of national economic output while occupying less than 0.6% of the country’s land area. Comprehensive advances have been made in building an international innovation and technology centre, a national comprehensive science centre and high-calibre talent clusters. Landmark projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge are now operational, essentially realising one-hour connectivity between major GBA cities. Key cooperation platforms in Hengqin, Qianhai, Nansha and Hetao are developing further, continuously expanding space for integrated Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao growth. This dynamic, fast-evolving GBA offers substantial opportunities for business collaboration between the UK and the region.

As Guangdong’s foremost trade and investment promotion agency, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangdong Committee (CCPIT Guangdong) has always highly valued its friendly relationship and pragmatic cooperation with the UK business community. We work closely with the British Embassy and the British Consulate in Guangzhou, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and other commercial groups to form the collective bridge deepening economic and trade links between Guangdong and the UK. Since 2023, we have co-organised the UK-Greater Bay Area Conference together with CBBC to sustain advancing two-way collaboration, to showcase the prospects of the GBA’s internationalisation and to provide UK firms with precise market insights. Furthermore, in 2024, we launched the Greater Bay Area Development Business Roundtable, bringing together 56 organisations, including CBBC, GBA-based trade promotion bodies, key business associations, foreign commercial offices and leading enterprises. This mechanism provides a long-term, steady, practical platform for dialogue, encourages broader integration and development within the GBA business community, and builds collective momentum for shared success.

Construction of the GBA is now entering a phase of all-round acceleration. The continued implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is reinforcing the region’s alignment with high-standard international trade rules and its development as a higher-level open economy. The GBA is committed to building a modern, internationally competitive industrial system, especially by accelerating its presence in forward-looking sectors such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, new energy and advanced materials. This creates unprecedented market opportunities and scope for cooperation for global companies, including those from the UK. The UK’s strengths in foundational research, financial and professional services, legal expertise and design innovation align closely with the GBA’s growing industrial demands and market potential.

Looking ahead, we should jointly seize the historic opportunities to propel UK-GBA economic and trade collaboration to the next level. CCPIT Guangdong stands ready to serve as a platform for engagement, a link for opportunity and a channel for mutual gain for all those interested in the UK-GBA partnership. We will continue to work from within the GBA to wholeheartedly support UK businesses investing in Guangdong, establishing a presence in the GBA and accessing its vast market. We aim to help UK firms fully benefit from the GBA’s development, to continually gain fresh growth momentum, and to grow, prosper and develop together with the GBA, contributing to a stable and far-reaching partnership between our two sides.

Let us work together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, to develop this new chapter in UK-GBA economic and trade cooperation, contributing further to prosperity in both regions and to an open world economy.

Chen Xiaofeng

President

CCPIT Guangdong