On 13 November 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, co-hosted the 2024 ASEAN-China Greater Bay Area (GBA) Economic Cooperation (Qianhai) Forum. At the opening ceremony, the ACC Secretary General Shi Zhongjun delivered the welcome remarks to over 1,000 participants including ASEAN officials, diplomats, and representatives of business associations from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as GBA government officials, scholars, and business delegates.

Secretary General Shi stated that the GBA is promoting the integration of its geographical and developmental advantages, and striving to build an important hub for comprehensive strategic cooperation between ASEAN and China. All parties should continue to enhance trust and build more consensus through consolidating platforms provided by the Forum, seize opportunities to advance digital transformation and green development, and integrate market resources to achieve an innovative eco-system for high-quality industry.

Vice Mayor Luo Huanghao of Shenzhen introduced Shenzhen’s edges in cooperating with ASEAN and the GBA. He highlighted the city’s prospect to carry out more mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade cooperation in the region, seize opportunities in emerging areas and innovation transformation, and work together for coordinated development.

Other AMS high-level officials who addressed the opening ceremony include Secretary of State Lim Lork Piseth of Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong of Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Technical Adviser Kun Vee Lee of Economics, Social and Cultural Council of Cambodia, Ambassador Chatchai Viriyavejakuk of the Kingdom of Thailand to China, Ambassador Maubere Lorosae Da Silva Horta of Timor Leste to China, and Deputy Chief of the Mission Arnel G. Talisayon of the Embassy of the Philippines in China. The dignitaries focused on the blueprint and progress of developing digital economy and technology innovation in their own countries and expected to enhance cooperation with the GBA to improve their competitiveness in emerging industries.

Following the opening ceremony, a series of parallel sessions were held including the ASEAN-China Think Tank Cooperation Forum, the ASEAN-GBA Chamber of Commerce Presidents Forum and the networking party. These events covered such emerging areas as digital transformation, cross-border e-commerce and financial service. Government officials, diplomats, business communities, think tanks and entrepreneurs from ASEAN and China had in-depth exchanges and discussions on these areas, building consensus on promoting cooperation and development between ASEAN and the GBA.

A business exhibition was held at the same time. Over 30 GBA enterprises showcased advanced technologies and products in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and intelligent equipment to ASEAN delegates.

These events achieved fruitful results. The ASEAN and GBA business entities signed cooperation documents with total amount of RMB 29.9 billion. The GBA-ASEAN Study Support Program was also launched at the Forum.

During their trip to Shenzhen, the ACC’s delegation also attended the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Food & Cultural Week 2024, watched the drone performance, and visited high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen.