Luo Hua, Deputy Editor-in-chief of People’s Daily Online, delivers a speech at the Global Bay Areas Cooperation and Development Forum in San Francisco, the United States, on March 29, 2019. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

San Francisco, March 29 - The Global Bay Areas Cooperation and Development Forum (GBAF) kicked off in San Francisco on March 29, attracting representatives from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as other bay areas in New York, San Francisco, London, Tokyo and Sydney. Speaking at the forum, Deputy Editor-in-chief of People’s Daily Online Luo Hua said that it would be an opportunity for China to build the Greater Bay Area into one of the world’s leading bay areas by learning from the best.

Leaders from prominent metropolitan and bay areas gathered for the forum, under the theme “Connect, Cooperate and Develop,” to discuss topics including economic globalization, regional integration, sustainable economic development and scientific and technological innovations regarding bay areas.

China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is built on the basis of one country, two systems, three customs territories and three currencies, which was a previously unprecedented move.

Addressing guests at the forum, Luo explained that there are five strategic roles of the Greater Bay Area, namely “to become a vibrant world-class city cluster, an international innovation and technology hub, a major pillar for the Belt and Road Initiative, a demonstration area for the deep cooperation between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as a quality area in terms of living, working and traveling.”

He stated that currently, there are three world-class bay areas: the New York Bay Area, San Francisco Bay Area and Tokyo Bay Area.

"All three bay areas, featuring openness, innovation, livable environment and global vision, serve as the primary growth poles for the economy and the bellwether of technological advancement, thanks to their open economy, efficient distribution of resources, strong accumulation and spillover effect, and developed networks for international exchanges.”

Luo remarked that each bay area is unique and has its own strengths. For example, the San Francisco Bay Area’s core competitiveness lies in its scientific and technological innovation. The New York Bay Area is known for its modern finance, while the Tokyo Bay Area excels at manufacturing and service.

“China has set a goal of building the Greater Bay Area into one of the world’s leading bay areas. The current world-class bay areas can serve as a reference for the construction of China’s bay area,” Luo said.

The forum is an opportunity for the bay areas to communicate and create win-win outcomes, in a bid to build a peaceful and prosperous shared future for humankind. “As a Chinese saying goes, when brothers are of the same mind, they have the power to cut through metal. As long as we keep working together, we will achieve win-win results,” Luo noted.

“The meeting today is a great beginning. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other bay areas in the world are expected to sail toward a better future and press ahead with exchanges and cooperation,” he concluded.

The Forum also introduced a cooperation mechanism for establishing the Global Bay Areas Cooperation Council. The council will build a platform to exchange the resources among the global bay areas, thus creating a robust and dynamic globally-linked economic system in which complementary competition leads to a synergistic development.