Guangdong backs Hengqin in support of quality growth, self-reliant China

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will help realize major national development strategies this year, the Guangdong Provincial People's Government states in a document released March 14.

Those strategies including prioritizing the quality rather than the quantity of growth and making China a self-reliant technological and manufacturing powerhouse with a low-carbon economy.

Along those lines, major policies in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will be accelerated concerning classified management, catalogue of encouraged industries, preferential rates for business and individual income taxes, market access, and financial openness.

Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley[Photo by Zeng Yao / Zhuhai Daily]

Meanwhile, "first-line" checkpoints and "second-line" channels are to have customs in operation by the end of the year. And support is specified for the Hengqin Intellectual Property Trading Center, Advanced Intelligent Computing Center, TCM New Drug Technology Innovation Center, and Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley. In addition, the Hengqin Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University will be constructed.

Furthermore, Greater Bay Area standards will further connect rules and docking mechanisms among member cities. Alliances will be established by testing and certification institutions in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. A confirmation system for commercial registration will be piloted within the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, while a "cross-border handling" work mechanism in the Greater Bay Area will be established. Hong Kong and Macao lawyers will be qualified to practice in the other nine Greater Bay Area cities. Domestic rail transit projects will have more connections with the Macao Light Rapid Transit.

In terms of customs clearance, the “joint inspection, one-time release” mode will be adopted for vehicles travelingGuangdong and Macao via Hengqin Checkpoint. Information exchange, mutual recognition of supervision, and mutual assistance in law enforcement between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao maritime departments will be enhanced.

In all, the document outlines 11 items and 168 specific measures as well as division of labor for the province's targets and 10 key tasks identified in the 2022 Government Work Report.Locally, related measures will be coordinated and implemented by the Hengqin Office of the People's Government of Guangdong.