Singapore and China eye deeper ties in Greater Bay Area project

The countries signed a slew of agreements relating to the blueprint during the visit of education minister Ong Ye Kung to Guangdong this week

Analysts say the city state’s enthusiasm for the plan is part of its effort to ‘stay relevant to China’s development needs’

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Shenzhen, one of the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:00am, 20 Nov 2019Updated: 5:59pm, 18 Dec 2019

Singapore has underscored its plans to enhance its involvement in China’s Greater Bay Area project after the two countries signed a slew of agreements linked to the blueprint during Education Minister Ong Ye Kung’s visit to Guangdong this week.

The deepened interest comes even as Hong Kong – a key part of the project – remains roiled by anti-government unrest, and analysts say the Lion City’s continued keenness on the plan shows that the mainland is its “main engagement partner” in the mega integration plan for southern China.

Beijing rolled out the Greater Bay Area blueprint in February in a bid to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities, including Shenzhen, into a financial and technological powerhouse rivalling the United States’ Silicon Valley by 2035.

Singapore’s Ong concluded his three-day working visit on Tuesday after an itinerary that included meetings with Guangdong governor Ma Xingrui and the provincial party boss Li Xi.

The education minister chairs the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council.

“Guangdong has always been at the frontier of economic reform in China, and in this current phase of China’s development, the Greater Bay Area will offer many new and unprecedented opportunities,” said Ong in Guangzhou on Monday at the council’s 10th meeting.

“Many Singapore companies are beginning to be very active in the Greater Bay Area, and I am sure many more will follow suit,” he said.