HONG KONG – More than 300 senior government officials, policymakers and business leaders from Asean, Hong Kong and China's Greater Bay Area (GBA) gathered for the South China Morning Post (SCMP) GBA-Asean Summit 2026, highlighting the growing economic partnership between the two regions.
Held on June 30, the summit focused on strengthening cross-border collaboration in trade, investment, technology and talent development, while positioning Hong Kong as a key gateway connecting Asean with the Greater Bay Area.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city's first-ever Five-Year Plan would prioritise deeper regional cooperation with Asean and Belt and Road economies by leveraging Hong Kong's strategic role within the Greater Bay Area.
"Hong Kong is now drawing up its first-ever Five-Year Plan. It will be a strategic blueprint that maps out Hong Kong's vision for the next five years and beyond. That very much includes deepening our regional cooperation with Asean, as well as other Belt and Road economies, through our unique positioning in the Greater Bay Area," he said in his keynote address.
Chairman of the HK-ASEAN Foundation Dr Daryl Ng described Hong Kong as a crucial bridge linking Asean's population of nearly 700 million people with the Greater Bay Area, whose economy exceeded RMB15 trillion last year.
He highlighted the growing trade relationship between the two regions, noting that exports passing through Hong Kong reached HK$680 billion in 2025, while total trade between Asean and Guangdong Province climbed to RMB1.5 trillion.
The summit also marked the official launch of the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong), an initiative aimed at strengthening business and commercial links between Asean economies and Hong Kong.
Speaking at the event, Tammy Tam, Publisher of the South China Morning Post, said Asia has become an increasingly attractive destination for international capital and businesses amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
"At a time of geopolitical tensions that create widespread uncertainty and deepening fragmentation, international capital and businesses are shifting focus towards the stability and immense potential that Asia offers," she said.
Tam added that Hong Kong, having recently become the world's largest cross-border wealth management hub, is well-positioned to serve as the region's "super connector" and "super value-adder" by facilitating the movement of capital, innovation and talent.
The summit featured ministerial-level representatives from Asean member states alongside business leaders and government officials from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, who discussed opportunities to deepen regional cooperation in strategic sectors, including technology, artificial intelligence, computing infrastructure, investment and human capital development.
Participants also emphasised the importance of viewing Asean and the Greater Bay Area as a connected economic ecosystem capable of driving sustainable growth and shared prosperity across the region.