Foreign
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to build world-class airport cluster

By Wang Lingxi
In 2023, the cumulative passenger traffic at the airports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) reached approximately 180 million people, and various indicators such as flight frequencies and cargo throughput have fully recovered.
In particular, Hong Kong International Airport handled 39.5 million passengers, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport 63 million, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport 52.73 million, Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport 11.457 million, and Macao International Airport 5.15 million.
As the GBA sees faster and faster integrated development, air routes from the GBA are reaching every corner of the world. A world-class airport cluster is rapidly taking shape in the area.
With the launch of the “Fly-via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong” passenger transfer service, travelers arriving at Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport on the Chinese mainland can now travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge directly to Hong Kong International Airport, without needing to go through immigration procedures in Hong Kong.
Industry insiders predicted that the project is expected to serve around 500,000 passengers annually. Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, Chief Operating Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, noted that the “Fly-via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong” service not only provides travelers with more options of international travel, but also fully utilizes the connectivity of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
In terms of logistics, Hong Kong has leveraged its position as an international shipping hub to establish new mechanisms for the flow of goods with various cities in the GBA.
In April of last year, the Dongguan-Hong Kong International Airport Logistics Park was officially launched, and it has since served over 300 foreign trade enterprises in the GBA, with a total import and export value exceeding 1.7 billion yuan ($239.99 million).
“The airport cluster in the GBA will further strengthen its integration and collaboration across air and ground operations in all aspects, based on the principles of complementary development, competitive cooperation and benign interaction. This will better facilitate the integrated development between the world-class airport cluster and urban clusters,” said an official of the Shenzhen municipal bureau of transport.
Developed aviation transportation capacity and airport economy are one of the core growth drivers of world-class bay areas.
Currently, the GBA has seven transport airports with 11 runways, including three international aviation hubs – Hong Kong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.
Additionally, there are two trunk airports, Macao International Airport and Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport, as well as two feeder airports, Foshan Shadi Airport and Huizhou Pingtan Airport.
According to estimates by the International Air Transport Association, air travel demand in the GBA is expected to increase significantly by 2030. The projections indicate there will be 387 million passengers and 20 million tons of air cargo traveling through the area in 2030. However, the major airports in the GBA are already operating at or near full capacity.
To facilitate more frequent movement of people and goods in the GBA, multiple airports in the area are undergoing expansion and accelerated development. In the coming years, there will be significant progress and breakthroughs as these airports strive to meet the growing demand.
Hong Kong International Airport is set to commence operations of its three-runway system project this year, aiming to achieve an annual passenger throughput of 120 million people and an annual cargo volume of 10 million tons.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is currently undergoing its third-phase expansion project, with an expected completion in 2025. Once operational, it will have a terminal capacity of 140 million passengers and a cargo throughput capacity of 6 million tons.
Additionally, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is accelerating its third runway expansion project and is projected to reach an annual passenger throughput of 80 million people and a cargo throughput of 2.6 million tons by 2026.
According to statistics, the GBA will have seven transport airports with 17 runways by 2035, with passenger throughput reaching 420 million people and cargo throughput exceeding 20 million tons. A world-class airport cluster featuring high-quality development will be built there.
“The future demand for air passenger and cargo transportation in the GBA will only continue to grow. By leveraging their respective strengths and promoting coordinated development, mutual benefits and win-win outcomes can be achieved,” said Cheung Kwok Law, senior research fellow at the Aviation Policy and Research Center, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong enjoys a significant geographical advantage. Departing from Hong Kong, passengers can reach major cities in the Asia-Pacific region within 4 hours and half of the world’s population can be reached within five hours of flight.
Hong Kong International Airport has been recognized as the “best airport in China,” “best airport in Asia,” and “busiest cargo airport in the world” for times. Currently, around 120 airlines operate in Hong Kong, connecting to 220 destinations worldwide and providing crucial momentum for Hong Kong’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, as the “land-sea-air” comprehensive transportation network in the GBA gets more and more developed, Hong Kong International Airport will further optimize its multimodal transport network and operations.
“We are more than just as an airport in Hong Kong. We will build ourselves into a crucial international aviation hub leveraging the advantages of being a gateway of the GBA,” said Fred Lam Tin-fuk, CEO of the Airport Authority Hong Kong.
He further emphasized that Hong Kong will continue to strengthen cooperation and connectivity with other cities in the GBA, provide more and better travel options for passengers in the area, and attract more overseas investors and tourists to the area.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
Foreign
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

By Wei Zhezhe, Liu Botong, People’s Daily
In a modest corner of Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong province, residents of Weidong village are experiencing firsthand a form of democracy that starts at the grassroots level and reverberates all the way to Beijing.
Wu Tengxin, a local villager who relies on a scooter for daily mobility after contracting polio, recalls a time when the village’s public spaces were ill-equipped for people with disabilities. Now, thanks to a simple suggestion made during a meeting, his everyday life has changed.
In November 2022, a team from a local legislative outreach office – a branch of China’sNational People’s Congress (NPC) – visited Weidong village and set up a “bench-style meeting.” Residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, gathered to voice their concerns about inadequate accessibility.
Amid the conversation, Wu offered a straightforward proposal: “I hope rural accessible facilities can be improved to make mobility easier for people with disabilities and the elderly.” His words were relayed verbatim to lawmakers.
The response was swift. On June 28, 2023, at the third session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, legislators passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment. The law stipulates that improvements”shall align with social and economic development levels, coordinate urban and rural progress, and gradually narrow the gap in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”
Today, Wu observes that the village’s main roads and public squares have been upgraded with accessibility features that make getting around considerably easier.
This episode illustrates what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy” – a system where citizen input is woven into every stage of policy development.
Jilie Ziri, head of Abuluoha village in Butuo county, southwest China’s Sichuan province, remarked that for young generations in China, democracy has become a lived experience. “Villagers are the masters of village affairs,” he said, emphasizing how active villager participation has injected new vitality into local governance.
Experts point to consultative democracy as a cornerstone of this process. Tao Kaiyuan, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, underscores the important role of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members hail from every stratum of society and bring a wealth of expertise and connections.
Their regular forums, field research, and public consultations have created robust channels for citizens to contribute ideas and forge consensus.”This approach gathers collective wisdom and transforms public voices into policy,” Tao said.
Another crucial manifestation is the effectiveness of China’s political party system. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese democratic parties actively fulfill their duties, offering recommendations that often translate into concrete policy decisions. This integrated approach demonstrates the unique strengths of China’s political system and the advantages of whole-process people’s democracy.
Tao emphasized that whole-process people’s democracyhas evolved into an efficient and dynamic democratic practice – one that not only reflects the essence of socialist democracy but also presents a pioneering model of political civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and democratic development.
Foreign
Chinese modernization: blueprint for global progress

By He Yin, People’s Daily
At China’s recent annual “two sessions,” Chinese modernization once again captured global attention. International observers are closely following a range of new measures designed not only to accelerate Chinese domestic transformation but also to unlock fresh opportunities for global development.
They believe that Chinese modernization, built on a foundation of openness and cooperation, will continue to yield global benefits with each new milestone.
Today, China stands as a formidable force in the global economy – accounting for around 18 percent of the global economy and nearly 30 percent of world manufacturing output. Year after year, the nation has contributed about 30 percent to global economic growth. With import and export records with almost all countries and regions designated in the United Nations Statistics Division, the country is a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions. In 2024, its exports to over 160 countries and regions saw growth.
Often hailed as the “world’s largest developing country,”the “second-largest economy,””world’s factory,””global market,” and “innovation powerhouse,” China is increasingly viewed as a beacon of stability and progress.
In recent years, high-profile events such as the seventh China International Import Expo – where intended deals exceeded $80 billion – and the establishment of over 1.239 million foreign-invested enterprises have reinforced the nation’s reputation as a vast, dynamic market.
Meanwhile, policies encouraging Chinese companies to “go global” have seen a steady stream of new technologies, goods, and services permeate international markets, knitting the country ever tighter into global value chains and bolstering its commitment to win-win cooperation.
The influence of Chinese modernization is evident far beyond its borders. In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadera has repeatedly screened China’s political documentary Carry the Reform Through to the End for cabinet discussions, while officialsin Uzbekistan are adapting China’s poverty-reduction experience to suit their national context. These moves challenge the assumption that modernization must follow Western models, suggesting that China’s alternative pathway offers a viable route to development.
Beyond economic growth, Chinese modernization is increasingly celebrated for its potential to foster win-win cooperation and shared prosperity.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), for example, Kazakhstan secured its first maritime access and Laos launched its first modern railway. Support from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund has propelled over 160 projects, benefiting more than 30 million people. Moreover, China has given all the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, signaling its commitment to an open and inclusive global economy.
China’s modernization agenda also tackles global challenges head on. In response to global environmental risks, China advocates for building a community of all life on the Earth. To bridge the digital and AI divide, it has launched the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All to ensure that technological advancements benefit every corner of the globe.
On the security front, China continues to promote dialogue and reconciliation in conflict zones while engaging in multilateral security collaborations, reinforcing its reputation as a nation committed to peace and stability.
By proposing initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative, China is not just charting its own course toward modernization but championing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization – one that seeks to ensure that no nation is left behind on the path to prosperity.
The global appeal of Chinese modernization is far from accidental. Decades of reform and opening up have accelerated its development while enabling the country to contribute to global governance. On the international stage, it has taken on a leadership role – actively shaping global norms, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and advancing world peace and development. By sharing its successful experiences and technological advancements, the country seeks to help other developing countries chart their own courses toward progress.
With over 1.4 billion people engaged in this modernization journey – a number that surpasses the total population of all developed countries combined – China’s approach is redefining the global modernization landscape. For China, modernization is not solely a national endeavor but a blueprint for global progress – a vision that promises a more inclusive future for all.
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