The fourth session of the 13th Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which runs until Wednesday, brings together proposals from Macao representatives focused on deepening regional cooperation, with an emphasis on the development of the Hengqin international university campus and investment in the low-altitude economy.
On the sidelines of the plenary meeting, the director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Kong Chi Meng, stressed the importance of the Macau-Hengqin International University City as a driver of cross-border innovation.
The project, funded by the Macao SAR Government with approximately 20 billion patacas, is expected to accommodate more than 20,000 students, contributing to the training of qualified personnel in the areas of tourism, leisure, and strategic sectors for the growth of Macao and the Greater Bay Area.
The construction of the campus is being carried out in phases and involves the University of Macau, the Macau Polytechnic University, and the Macau University of Tourism. Postgraduate education is expected to start in 2026, with the first undergraduate students entering in 2028.
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Kong Chi Meng also defended the need for institutional innovations, such as cross-border education models, the free movement of talent, the joint transformation of scientific results, and the mutual recognition of research funding rules, with the aim of creating an international education zone and a hub for attracting global talent.
Other representatives from Macao reinforced the relevance of Hengqin for regional integration. João Ma Chi Tat, from the Macao Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of attracting more international universities and proposed the development of the low-altitude economy, considering that it could facilitate the flow of goods between Macao and Hengqin.
Cooperation in the areas of aging populations and healthcare was also highlighted. Chan Sio Cheng, from the Macau Kong Mun Association, recalled that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan and argued that the development of the Hengqin Deep Cooperation Zone and cross-border issues related to elderly care should be prioritized.
In the economic and technological field, Hon Chi Tin, from the Macau University of Science and Technology, pointed to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and the low-altitude economy as areas that require top talent. He also highlighted that Macau can play an important role as a scientific and technological platform in the context of the Greater Bay Area.
The Guangdong CPPCC session focuses on setting goals and priorities for the new planning cycle and is seen by Macao as an opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation mechanisms and align the development of the Macao SAR with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area regional strategy.
