China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has seen significant integration progress since 2019 with deepening connectivity of transportation and regulations contributing to robust economic development, a recent report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows on Friday. By 2023, the GBA's total economic output had surpassed 14 trillion yuan (1.97 trillion U.S. dollars), an increase of 3.2 trillion yuan over five years.
The region ranks among the top four bay areas globally in patent capabilities, establishing itself as one of China's most open and economically dynamic regions.
The Global Investment and Trade Conference for the GBA in 2022 and 2023 resulted in over 1,700 investment projects, with a total investment amount nearing five trillion yuan.
The "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" technology cluster has been ranked second in the Global Innovation Index (GII) by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for four consecutive years.
The GBA has established eight trillion-yuan level industrial clusters, covering electronic information, green petrochemicals, smart home appliances, and automobiles.
In terms of the connection of infrastructure and regulations, by the end of 2023, 69,000 individual investors had participated in the pilot "Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme," with cross-border fund transfers exceeding 12.8 billion yuan.
The "one-hour living circle" project in the Great Bay Area has largely taken shape as it only takes a 30-minute drive to travel between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao.
In 2023, the total number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Shenzhen and Hong Kong ports exceeded 160 million, with the average daily number exceeding 400,000, and the peak even exceeding 800,000.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay covers an area of 56,000 square kilometers. Having the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other seven cities from Guangdong Province in the area, the international transportation hub for air and sea has a huge advantage in tourism.
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area makes steady progress in economy, connectivity: data
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a non-binding resolution on Wednesday demanding an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months by an overwhelming margin.
The resolution was adopted with 124 votes in favor, 14 against and 43 abstentions, during the UNGA's 10th emergency special session considering Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The resolution demanding that Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice, was introduced by the State of Palestine on Tuesday and was co-sponsored by more than two dozen nations.
By the newly adopted resolution, the UNGA "demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution."
The UNGA also demands that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice.
In remarks before the vote, Mohamed Issa Abushahab, the permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, said the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza must be addressed through unimpeded access to those in need, a ceasefire deal and the full implementation of all related Security Council resolutions.
A credible peace process must be relaunched to work towards a two-State solution to diffuse this conflict, he said, expressing support for the State of Palestine's full statehood and UN membership. "The time has come to end the suffering," he noted.
Introducing the draft resolution on Tuesday, Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He said the Palestinian people have been steadfast in the pursuit of their inalienable rights, just like all other citizens worldwide who seek self-determination.
"The Palestinians want to live, not survive -- they want to be safe in their homes, they want their children to go to school without fear. They want to be free in reality as they are in spirit," said Mansour.
UNGA calls for end to Israeli occupation in Palestine within a year
UNGA calls for end to Israeli occupation in Palestine within a year
