Representatives of Lao newspapers Vientiane Times, Pasaxon and Vientiane Mai pose together at the Asia-Pacific Media Forum Zhuhai Sub-forum on September 3.

Zhuhai showcases connectivity, trade links

Zhuhai, China: Zhuhai has highlighted how transport links can bring people, businesses and markets closer together as it seeks deeper engagement with the Asia-Pacific region.
​This was the key topic of discussion at the Zhuhai Sub-forum of the Asia-Pacific Media High-Level Forum, held on September 3 at Blue Dolphin Island on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
The forum was attended by more than 160 international officials, media representatives, scholars, and business leaders.
Opened by Secretary of the Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee, Chen Yong, the forum sought to build a new era of cross-border exchange rooted in mutual learning and inclusiveness.
The forum offered visitors a close look at how infrastructure developments are reshaping economic and social links in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Since opening in October 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has fundamentally reshaped the economic and social fabric of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By cutting travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong to just 45 minutes, it has turned a theoretical “one-hour living circle” into a daily reality.
Faster transport time has transformed logistics too; fresh agricultural produce from western Guangdong, such as lychees and Sanhua plums, can now reach Hong Kong supermarket shelves in half a day.
This situation offers a useful lesson for Laos, which is also seeking to turn improved transport links into stronger trade and economic ties.
The Laos-China Railway has been an important part of this effort since it became operational in December 2021. The railway has reduced travel time between Laos and China and created new opportunities for the movement of passengers and goods.
For Laos, better connectivity is increasingly linked to efforts to expand trade, attract investment and promote tourism. The railway also provides a direct link between Laos and China’s wider transport network, strengthening Laos’ role as a land-linked economy within mainland Southeast Asia.
The core takeaway from both megaprojects is that the true value of infrastructure lies beyond concrete and steel. The real impact is felt when businesses, tourists, and local communities leverage these links to forge new connections.
This was also evident in Hengqin, where more than 30,000 Macao residents and over 7,600 Macao-funded enterprises now live, work and invest.
The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is designed to deepen economic integration between Macao and mainland China, providing another example of how policy, infrastructure and business links can jointly create opportunities.
During a panel discussion, Chinese and foreign speakers examined how equal dialogue and youth exchanges could build greater understanding, as well as how industrial and cultural cooperation could deepen links among Asia-Pacific societies.
The forum also featured a special session on “Guangdong Goods to the World, Zhuhai Products to the Globe” and a promotional event marking the 30th anniversary of the China Airshow.
Discussions showed that regional connectivity is not only about moving goods and people faster but can also help create opportunities for businesses, encourage cultural exchange, and bring communities closer together.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest UpdateSeptember 7, 2026)