On 22 March 2026, the grand celebration marking the 9th anniversary of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance and the 10th anniversary of the Qianhai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce (Shenzhen) was held in Qianhai, Shenzhen. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the event and delivered a speech. Other distinguished attendees included Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, Member of the Standing Committee of the National CPPCC, Chairman of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance and President of the Qianhai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce (Shenzhen); Wang Shourui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone; Wang Daping, Vice Chairman of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Wu Shourong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Su Wuyuan, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Jiang Likun, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government. Over 500 participants including Shenzhen and Hong Kong entrepreneurs as well as chamber of commerce executives gathered at the venue to discuss new opportunities for Shenzhen-Hong Kong integration and jointly draw a blueprint for high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area.
Joseph Mak, Dean of Asia-Pacific ESG Strategy Research Institute (APESG), Vice President of Qianhai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce (Shenzhen), Vice Chairman of the ESG Committee of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance and Founding Partner of Sirenia Capital, was invited to attend the ceremony. As a representative of the chamber’s vice president member entity, Dean Joseph Mak took part in the closed-door seminar themed “Dual Shenzhen-Hong Kong Channels and APEC Economic and Trade Cooperation”, the general membership meeting and the gala dinner throughout the day. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the alliance and the chamber as well as exchanges and cooperation between the industrial and commercial sectors of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award at the ceremony.
Guest Speeches
Unite Shenzhen-Hong Kong Synergies to Build an Exemplary Greater Bay Area
This celebration falls at a pivotal milestone as Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation enters a new decade. Furthermore, the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be hosted in Shenzhen for the first time, making joint efforts between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to support APEC’s overall agenda a core strategic priority for the year. Against this significant backdrop, all guests gathered to exchange views on Shenzhen-Hong Kong integration and deliberate on the development of the Greater Bay Area.
In his keynote address, Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), stressed that there are no two cities worldwide with such massive economic volume and close geographical proximity that have achieved remarkable results through decades of continuous cooperation and integration, setting a model for regional economic coordination across the globe.
In his welcome speech, Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, Member of the Standing Committee of the National CPPCC, Chairman of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance and President of Qianhai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce (Shenzhen), reviewed the development journey of the Alliance and the Chamber since their establishment. He pointed out that the two organizations have evolved into high-level business groups with the most vibrant operations in the Greater Bay Area, extensive political and business connections at home and abroad, full backing from industrial and commercial communities from China and overseas, and branches across ASEAN nations and multiple Middle Eastern countries. They serve as a robust platform supporting China’s high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area and connecting China with the rest of the world.
Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government, stated that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation. The Mainland Enterprises Global Expansion Task Force launched in 2025 has achieved effective synergy with the national Application Scenario Centre policy. A series of plans for coordinated industrial development between Shenzhen and Hong Kong have built key platforms for Hong Kong enterprises to tap into the mainland market and mainland firms to go global via Hong Kong. Leveraging its strengths as an international financial, trade and shipping hub, Hong Kong will further deepen collaboration with Qianhai in industries, finance, technology innovation and other sectors.
Wang Shourui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, noted that Qianhai has always prioritized industrial coordination between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and the newly unveiled coordinated development plans align closely with Qianhai’s positioning. Qianhai will keep advancing institutional innovation, align rules, regulations, administration and standards with international practices to deliver a superior business environment and service support for cross-border industrial collaboration. It will fully back the development of the dedicated committee and joint innovation zone to deliver more cooperation outcomes in Qianhai.
Highlight Closed-door Seminar
Seize APEC Opportunities to Jointly Build Two-way Shenzhen-Hong Kong Corridors
As a flagship supporting event of the anniversary gala, the closed-door seminar themed “Two-way Shenzhen-Hong Kong Corridors and APEC Economic & Trade Cooperation” was grandly held. In-depth discussions centered on three core themes: APEC enterprises accessing China’s market via Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Shenzhen-based firms expanding into APEC economies through Hong Kong, and two-way financial support plus institutional innovation across Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Representatives from Shenzhen and Hong Kong enterprises, delegates from APEC member economies including the Philippines, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea, heads of overseas chambers of commerce and leading experts in professional services gathered to explore new approaches for constructing two-way Shenzhen-Hong Kong corridors and boosting APEC economic and trade collaboration.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Jonathan Choi Koon-shum remarked that Hong Kong boasts unique international strengths as a vital bridge linking the Chinese mainland with APEC member states. At this critical juncture when a suite of APEC events are hosted in Shenzhen during China’s APEC host year, Shenzhen and Hong Kong should establish more efficient two-way corridors to support balanced development of inbound investment and outbound expansion for enterprises.
Against the backdrop of major strategic opportunities for Shenzhen-Hong Kong joint participation in APEC economic and trade cooperation, alongside tangible financial demands amid enterprises’ cross-border expansion, Joseph Mak, Founding Partner of Sirenia Capital and Dean of Asia-Pacific ESG Strategy Research Institute (APESG), drew on hands-on cross-border investment and financing experience to analyse new opportunities in Shenzhen-Hong Kong financial cooperation from a professional perspective. He introduced innovative cross-border investment and financing models, notably cross-border warrants tailored for tech innovation firms, which effectively address enterprises’ capital needs for two-way development.
He stated that building efficient two-way Shenzhen-Hong Kong corridors hinges on dual drivers: coordinated capital markets and industrial value empowerment. Multiple financial connectivity initiatives unveiled in Hong Kong’s latest Budget, paired with market-oriented innovative financial instruments, have removed numerous barriers to cross-border capital flows. Moving forward, continuous efforts will be made to align Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s financial rules and roll out institutional innovations. Targeted financial support will fuel the real economy, turning the two-way corridors into a key bridge connecting China with the Asia-Pacific and the whole world. This will enable Greater Bay Area enterprises to fully capitalize on APEC economic and trade opportunities and achieve high-quality cross-border growth.
Inauguration of Innovative Platforms
Deepen Industrial and Financial Synergy to Empower High-quality Corporate Development
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Industrial Coordination and Development Committee was officially inaugurated at the gala. Serving as a core coordination platform for cross-border industrial collaboration, the committee will advance in-depth integration of industrial and supply chains and efficient flow of resources. Meanwhile, the Specialized, Refined, Distinctive & Innovative Enterprise Board – Shenzhen-Hong Kong Joint Innovation Zone was launched jointly by Qianhai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Qianhai Equity Exchange Centre. It aims to build a four-stage relay financial service system: cultivation in Shenzhen, listing in Hong Kong and global expansion, supporting transformative growth of specialized innovative SMEs.
Looking Ahead
Empowered by APEC, Usher in a New Chapter of Sustainable Shenzhen-Hong Kong Development
Standing at the threshold of a new decade, Asia-Pacific ESG Strategy Research Institute (APESG) will continue to leverage its professional strengths in ESG, sustainable finance and cross-border resource matching to deeply engage in Greater Bay Area industrial coordination and the construction of two-way Shenzhen-Hong Kong corridors. Through green finance and professional consultancy, it will empower enterprises’ cross-border expansion. Seizing the strategic opportunities of China’s APEC host year, APESG will partner with all sectors to forge a new landscape of high-quality, sustainable development for Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
