中文
The Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development emphasize that opening-up and cooperation for mutual benefit are integral to Chinese modernization.
As a strategic pillar of China's new development paradigm, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) leverages the unique advantages of Hong Kong and Macao — backed by the motherland while connected to the world — to become a vital hub for Asia-Pacific integration. It has demonstrated strong driving power in scientific and technological innovation, financial services, and advanced manufacturing.
In recent years, cooperation between China and ASEAN has grown increasingly close, and the GBA has played a highly significant role as a platform in this process. What aspects of the GBA interest ASEAN citizens, and what cooperation opportunities do they anticipate the most?
A recent public opinion survey, conducted by the Great Strategic Think Tank and Dataway, under the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) Knowledge Sharing project, shows that respondents in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam expect the GBA to become a driver of high-quality regional development. They view it as a new hub for the digital economy and innovation cooperation, and a demonstration zone for translating policies into concrete, pragmatic projects.
Respondents expect GBA to drive high-quality regional integration
Respondents view the GBA as a vital force for promoting high-quality integrated development between China and ASEAN. They consider the GBA's strengths in trade and logistics (56.5%), scientific and technological innovation (54%) and financial services (47.9%) as most beneficial for the region.
Respondents emphasize the GBA's value as a strategic channel linking China-ASEAN cooperation. They expect the GBA to provide high-quality investment and employment opportunities (29.5%), expand access to China's vast consumer market (28.5%) and become a model for integrated development and mutual learning (22.6%).
Survey finds support for innovation and digital economy cooperation
The survey results show that the digital economy and e-commerce (29.7%), infrastructure investment (26.5%) and green energy and sustainable development (23.2%) are the top areas where respondents in the five ASEAN countries hope to cooperate with the GBA.
Investment incentives, such as tax preferences or subsidies (28%), joint research and technology transfer programs (27.3%), and improved transportation and logistics connectivity (23.9%), are considered the most important factors for deepening cooperation.
This indicates that while clear, predictable preferential policies are vital for attracting participation, ASEAN countries also hope to enhance technological innovation and build endogenous development capacity. This marks a transition in China-ASEAN relations from close economic ties to a new phase of innovation partnerships.
Respondents seek better policy support and pragmatic projects
Expectations for cooperation with the GBA reflect not just a broad consensus but also a focus on specific support that is accessible, usable and effective.
Technology transfer and joint R&D cooperation (28.1%) rank highest, viewed as the core demand for strengthening economic ties. Investment funding and joint ventures (24.9%) reflect pragmatic considerations regarding resource allocation.
Meanwhile, policy coordination and trade agreements (24.2%) alongside market access and consumer insights (22.8%) constitute essential institutional and market-level support for ensuring tangible results.
These expectations outline a blueprint for cooperation that transitions from economic complementarity to symbiotic development, and from market connectivity to mutual learning in governance.
Conducted online from September to October 2025, the survey polled 5,249 respondents across the five ASEAN countries mentioned above. Participants were aged 18 to 64 and held at least a bachelor's degree.
