Where is the "depth" of the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone?

On the evening of September 16th, brilliant fireworks once again illuminated both sides of the Haojiang River.

After three years, the Macau International Fireworks Competition has returned once again. However, the media and citizens in Zhuhai were the first to become popular. Local media in Zhuhai have even planned the "best viewing route" on the Zhuhai side, looking forward to the return of the grand event.

A fireworks display, shared by both places, reflects the proximity of the Pearl River and Macau. Behind the crowd overlooking by the railing is the newly established Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone.

From focusing on strengthening policy system support, to vigorously promoting the integration of rules and mechanisms, and then accelerating the implementation of key projects and attracting the gathering of global innovation elements... Over the past two years, not only has the brilliant fireworks bloomed on the banks of the Haojiang River, but a new practice of "one country, two systems" is also unfolding here.

Looking back at the past two years, how did the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone gradually reach a deeper level? What new insights will it bring to the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area?

Behind the depth, there is a profound meaning.

"Deep cooperation" is an unprecedented new term, which also means facing unprecedented new challenges and calling for unprecedented breakthroughs in the system.

How to transform the difference between the two systems into the benefit of one country? At the beginning of the establishment of the cooperation zone, Guangdong and Australia first innovated in their management mechanism: the "new system of joint consultation, joint construction, joint management and sharing" established by both sides is an unprecedented new management measure.

On this basis, Guangdong and Macao jointly established the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone Management Committee, which will coordinate and decide on major plans, policies, projects, and personnel appointments and dismissals within its authority. The Management Committee of the Cooperation Zone adopts a dual director system, jointly served by the Governor of Guangdong Province and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region. This management mechanism is unprecedented, and it is through such "deep" consultation, co construction, and co management that "sharing" becomes possible.

How to ensure that Macau entrepreneurs can take root with peace of mind and that Macau residents can share the fruits of the development of the cooperation zone? The two sides of Guangdong and Macao first chose to conduct a pilot experiment on the comprehensive livelihood project of "Macau New Neighborhood", which is the first in the country to be built for Macau residents and adopts Macau standards in terms of operation mode and overall security system.

Since the beginning of this year, the cooperation zone has established a "Macau New Neighborhood" public service and rule connection leadership group, taking "Macau New Neighborhood" as a demonstration project, innovating breakthroughs from point to surface, promoting orderly connection with Macau's public service and social security system, leveraging policies including allowing Macau medical staff to practice and use some drugs already listed in Macau in health stations, achieving the use of the "Guangdong Macau Social Security One Window Connection", and achieving the first "cross-border handling" of Macau social security services

Here, peace of mind is my hometown. On the fertile "experimental field" of "new neighborhoods in Macau," not only are new breakthroughs in people's livelihoods being cultivated, but also a new future known, visible, and perceptible to Macau residents. Today, the profound expectations two years ago have turned into a surge of talents in Macau within the cooperation zone. Bringing Qinhuangdao closer and deepening cooperation has always been the pursuit of the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone.

Above cooperation, there is more integration. Over the past two years, major transportation hub projects in the cooperation zone have taken frequent actions: the shield tunnel of the Macao Light Rail Extension Hengqin Line project has been successfully completed, the cross gate tunnel has been completed and opened to traffic, and the construction of the Mangzhou Tunnel has been accelerated... Looking at the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, the construction of major infrastructure such as the Qingmao Port and the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, which have been gradually built and opened in recent years, has tightly woven the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone into the overall development of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. The hardware facilities for the "cooperation" in the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, located at the intersection of "one country, two systems," have been improved. On this basis, how to guide Guangdong Macao cooperation to a deeper level and further unleash the institutional advantages of "1+1>2"?

In October 2018, General Secretary conducted an inspection in Hengqin, Zhuhai. He emphasized that Hengqin has inherent advantages in Guangdong Macao cooperation, and needs to strengthen policy support, enrich cooperation content, expand cooperation space, develop emerging industries, and promote more dynamic economic development in Macao.

Standing at a new starting point of cooperation in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangdong has taken the lead in proposing that the construction of the Greater Bay Area should be promoted in depth. Strive to expand and transform the interconnectivity between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao into a comprehensive cycle of Greater Bay Area integration, giving "Bay Area Connection" a deeper significance.

Therefore, the depth of cooperation between Guangdong and Macao in the new stage is not only a one-way flow of people, logistics, and funds, but also a two-way flow of mutual benefit. In one sentence: In addition to promoting road connectivity and harmony among people, Guangdong and Macao should also make great efforts in integrating institutional mechanisms.

Over the past two years, the number of single license plate cars in Macau has been continuously increasing, and the implementation of "Macau Car North" has been officially implemented; From Macau doctors to cross-border practitioners in Hengqin, to Macau entrepreneurs who have successfully applied for the first batch of business licenses, they are enthusiastic about participating in the construction of the Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone. Nowadays, the number of Macau professionals in the fields of physicians, architecture, tourism, etc. who come to the cooperation zone for cross-border practice has increased by 1270. Deepening the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area has been concretely implemented in Hengqin, including rule linkage, mechanism docking, and institutional innovation.

Gradually entering a better stage, the "new ideas" of Guangdong Macao cooperation are becoming more abundant. The effectiveness of "deep cooperation" in the cooperation zone is undoubtedly best measured by its popularity: as of August, there were a total of 5763 Australian funded enterprises in the cooperation zone, an increase of 23.54% compared to before listing, and 7473 Macau residents were employed and living in the cooperation zone.

There are more Macau residents living in Zhuhai, and the flow of passengers and vehicles between the two places is also continuous. Customs data shows that in the past two years, more than 21.25 million passengers have entered and exited through the Hengqin Port, with about 2.9 million vehicles, including over 1.95 million vehicles with a single license plate in Macau, an increase of about 81.7%, 68.1%, and 172.4% year-on-year, respectively. Since the beginning of this year, the inbound and outbound passenger flow at Hengqin Port has exceeded 10 million for the first time in a natural year.

Amidst the surging crowds, innovative institutional innovations continue to emerge in the cooperation zone: the first national electricity supply and consumption regulation that integrates the characteristics of Guangdong and Macao has been introduced; Develop the first set of characteristic industry statistical classification standards for the cooperation zone, and build a bridge between the current domestic industry classification and the coordinated transformation of the "four major" industries; "Cross border RMB full electronic tax payment" has been replicated and promoted nationwide Nowadays, Hengqin is full of innovative development vitality. Starting from the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, the "spillover effect" of this transformation in the development concept of the Bay Area is profoundly affecting and promoting the development of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. The Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone has gradually transformed from the intersection of "one country, two systems" to a high-level open area with Chinese characteristics and demonstrating the advantages of "two systems".

From "communication" to "integration", ultimately achieving "speed". As we feel the various benefits brought by the integration of the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, it is not difficult to glimpse that the "push back feeling" signal brought by the accelerated development of the Greater Bay Area is becoming clearer and stronger!

Under bundles of fireworks, Hengqin and Macau are brightly lit, with towering skyscrapers blending together like a city. On these new facilities and buildings that continue to climb the skyline, we can clearly see that Qin'ao's deep cooperation is rooted in the soil of the cooperation zone, and the depth is still expanding. We believe more that this harmonious fireworks will illuminate the night sky of more cities in the Greater Bay Area!