Recently, Guangdong issued a three-year plan to digitalize the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), so as to build GBA into one of the world's highest level of digital bay area, according to a press conference held by the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province on November 21.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

According to Yang Pengfei, director of the Guangdong Provincial Government Affairs Data Administration, Guangdong plans use Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, Nansha Demonstration Zone for Comprehensive Cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao as well as the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone as platforms to optimize the distribution services and classification management of cross-border data.

The Province will also work with Hong Kong and Macao to integrate a series of digital resources such as network, computing power, storage and data of the three regions to optimize the sharing the publishing of computing resources in GBA.

Meanwhile, Guangdong will give full play to the Guangdong Investment Promotion Platform (Invest Guangdong) to provide innovative services for investment professionals and business investors through digital techniques.

The Province also works to build industrial clusters for information innovation, digital government, data and network security, encouraging enterprises and scientific research teams in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to carry out researches on general artificial intelligence.

Mini program ready to be available to facilitate people's life in GBA

A mini program named Wanshitong (Chinese: 湾事通; pinyin: wan shi tong) is ready to be put into use to better serve the people who work and live in GBA, according to the press conference. It will soon be officially available on WeChat and Alipay.

According to Wei Wentao, spokesperson for the Guangdong Provincial Government Affairs Data Administration, this public service platform offers residents and expats living in GBA with over 70 frequently-used services, covering travel, customs clearance, communication, payment, employment, elderly care, education, and insurance.

"For instance, residents who travel to Hong Kong and Macao SARs from the Chinese mainland can make an appointment for customs clearance permits and find the nearby immigration office hall through Wanshitong," said Wei Wentao. "Hong Kong and Macao residents who visit the mainland can also enjoy an array of services through the mini program such as the guidance for Hong Kong vehicles entering Guangdong."

Summit and Forum on Digital GBA to be held to enhance the digitalization of GBA

Moreover, according to the press conference, the 2nd Digital Government Summit and Forum on Digital GBA will be held from December 8 to 10 in Guangzhou. Yang Pengfei, director of the Guangdong Provincial Government Affairs Data Administration, said that the Summit would feature seven special forums, focusing on digital elements, government services, governmental governance, digital economy, digital society, network and information security, and digital GBA.

The event will invite more than 3,000 guests to attend, including government leaders from various provinces, regions and municipalities across the country, academicians, experts and scholars in the field of digital government, as well as leaders from leading enterprises in the field of digital development.