On 16 May, 2024, the Centre for China Studies (CCS), Faculty of Arts, CUHK, and the Institute for International Affairs (IIA), CUHK(SZ), successfully hosted the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Asia-Europe Dialogue 2024.

This event was also supported by the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance, CUHK; Institute of Policy and Practice, Shenzhen Finance Institute (SFI); the Hua Jing Society; Hong Kong Institution for International Finance; and Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area. We were honored to have Mr. Laurie Pearcey (Associate Vice-President, External Engagement & Outreach, CUHK), Professor Carole Hoyan (Professor and Interim Director, Centre for China Studies, CUHK), and Professor Zheng Yongnian (Director, The Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, CUHK(SZ); Board Director, Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area) deliver the opening remarks.

The global economy and international politics have witnessed profound structural shifts during recent decades. The world is facing rising geopolitical volatility and pressures against globalization. Meanwhile, disruptive technological innovation and economic structural transformation are creating new space for growth. The Belt and Road Initiative has generated new dynamism of development, enhancing connectivity across Asia, Europe and Africa. In this context, how do we analyse the opportunities and challenges in China-ASEAN relations and China-Europe relations? How should Hong Kong, and more broadly China’s GBA, better serve as a “super-connector” to promote connectivity and cooperation between China and other countries in Asia and Europe? The GBA Asia-Europe Dialogue invites leading scholars and policy experts in the field to address these questions. The dialogue is convened by Professor Li Chen (Associate Professor, Centre for China Studies, CUHK).

We express our sincere appreciation to all the esteemed professionals and participants who contributed to the success of the dialogue. Their valuable insights and expertise greatly enriched the event and fostered meaningful discussions. The keynote sessions and policy roundtable were joined by Professor Liu Hong (Tan Lark Sye Chair Professor in Public Policy and Global Affairs at the School of Social Sciences, Associate Vice President, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), Professor Andrew Sheng (Former Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong; Distinguished Fellow of the Asia Global Institute, HKU), Professor Zhuang Juzhong (Former Deputy Chief Economist, Asia Development Bank), Professor Zheng Yongnian (Director, The Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, CUHK(SZ); Board Director, Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area), Professor Shen Wei (Qiushi Distinguished Chair Professor, Zhejiang University; European Union Jean Monnet Chair), Professor Huang Ping (Executive Vice President, the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong; Director of the Centre for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)), Professor Dominick Mierzejewski (Chair, Centre for Asian Affairs, Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz, Poland), Professor Song Xinning (Professor, School of Humanities & Social Science, CUHK (Shenzhen); European Union Jean Monnet Chair), Professor Terence Chong (Associate Head of New Asia College, Executive Director of Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics & Finance, CUHK), Professor Xiao Geng (Professor of Practice, CUHK (Shenzhen), Director of Institute of Policy and Practice, Shenzhen Finance Institute, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Institution for International Finance), Dr. Wendy Hong (Member of the HKSAR Legislative Council and Head of Research at New World Development Company), Dr. He Dongni (Academic Deputy Dean, Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area), Professor Li Chen (Associate Professor, Centre for China Studies, CUHK), and Professor Tim Summers (Assistant Professor, Centre for China Studies, CUHK).

We look forward to continued collaboration with these distinguished experts in the future, as we strive to further enhance academic and policy research on the GBA development and promote international dialogue and connectivity.