Shenzhen, (January 15, 2026) – The year 2026 marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Under this blueprint, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) region is poised to accelerate high-quality, innovation-driven growth. In 2024, the region’s economy expanded to US$2 trillion. To explore the next frontier of cross-border collaboration and emerging opportunities, the SCMP hosted the China Conference: Greater Bay Area 2026 in Qianhai.
Keynote speaker The Hon Joseph Chan Ho-lim, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, underscored Hong Kong’s important role as an international financial centre, a global offshore Renminbi hub, and an international asset and risk management centre. The Hong Kong government continues to collaborate with Mainland authorities to implement policies in an orderly, risk-controlled manner, harnessing the GBA opportunities while ensuring sustainable growth in the financial sector. Such deepened alignment helps unlock innovation and shared prosperity across the region.
The GBA’s resilience is rooted in the complementary strengths and partnerships across cities in the region. Xiao Ting, Chairman and Executive Director of Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited, and Chairman and Non-Executive Director of BOCOM International Holdings Company Limited, also highlighted the transformative potential of “finance + AI”, emphasising AI’s role in reshaping the industry, driving innovation, and fostering high-quality development.
Reflecting on a global landscape reshaped by geopolitical shifts and rapid technological advancements, Tammy Tam, Publisher of the South China Morning Post, emphasised the importance of trusted information sources, reliable networks and expert insights. The SCMP’s China Conference therefore serves as an excellent platform for government and business leaders, innovators and investors to share ideas and engage in meaningful discussions.
This marks the second time such a conference has been hosted in the rapidly developing GBA. For further insights into the discussions, visit SCMP.
- Editorial | Greater Bay Area collaboration can help Hong Kong rise to challenges ahead
- Hong Kong, Shenzhen ‘to deepen’ ties in finance and AI to build world-class fintech hub
- Hong Kong, Shenzhen push secure data corridor to unlock AI and fintech opportunities
- Hong Kong lawyers should not aim just to compete but specialise in Greater Bay Area
China Conference: Greater Bay Area 2026 is supported by:
- Presenting sponsor: Bank of Communications (Hong Kong)
END
For press enquiries or more information, please email: [email protected]
About the South China Morning Post (SCMP)
The South China Morning Post is a leading global news organisation that has reported on China and Asia for over 120 years. Founded in 1903, the SCMP is headquartered in Hong Kong, where it is the city’s newspaper of record, with a growing staff of correspondents in Asia and across the globe. The SCMP has received hundreds of awards for its journalistic excellence from prestigious organisations such as the World Association of News Publishers and the Online News Association. The SCMP also publishes a portfolio of premium lifestyle and fashion titles in Hong Kong, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire and Harper’s BAZAAR. In 2020, SCMP became the first news organisation in Asia to join the Trust Project, a consortium of top news companies developing global transparency standards for credible journalism.
