Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area accelerates growth in low-altitude economy

粤港澳大湾区加速低空经济发展

An electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, developed by Chinese drone maker EHang, carries out a demo flight at the urban air traffic operation demonstration center in Bao'an District in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

2025年4月16日，中国无人机制造商亿航智能研发的一架电动垂直起降(eVTOL)飞行器在中国南方广东省深圳市宝安区的城市空中交通运行示范中心进行演示飞行。（新华社/毛思倩）

GUANGZHOU, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Conference on High-Quality Development of Low-Altitude Economy in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) convened in south China's Guangzhou city Thursday, gathering government officials, industry leaders and academics to chart a course for innovation-driven growth.

广州，12月25日（新华社电）-2025年粤港澳大湾区低空经济高质量发展大会于周四在中国南方城市广州召开，来自政府、产业界和学界的代表齐聚一堂，共同探讨以创新驱动发展的路径。

Low-altitude economy, a strategic emerging cluster, represents a pivotal frontier for technological advancement and economic diversification. The GBA, with its robust industrial ecosystem and cross-border synergies, is poised to lead this charge.

低空经济作为战略性新兴产业集群，是推动技术进步和经济多元化的重要前沿领域。粤港澳大湾区凭借强大的产业生态体系和跨区域协同优势，有望在这一领域引领发展。

Guangdong Province, the core engine of the GBA, is a hub in China's low-altitude landscape. Data from the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission reveals that the province hosts over 15,000 low-altitude industry chain enterprises, 30 percent of China's total, including global leaders like EHang and DJI. In 2024, Guangdong produced 6.94 million civilian drones, accounting for 95 percent of China's consumer-grade and 54 percent of the industrial-grade market shares.

作为粤港澳大湾区的核心引擎，广东省是中国低空经济的重要枢纽。广东省发改委数据显示，该省拥有超过1.5万家低空经济产业链企业，占全国总量的30%。其中包括亿航和大疆等全球领先企业。2024年，广东生产民用无人机694万架，占全国消费级市场份额的95%和工业级市场份额的54%。

The conference yielded substantial collaboration outcomes, with cities including Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Zhuhai inking agreements spanning government-enterprise partnerships, research alliances and operational innovations. These steps aim to forge a networked industrial ecology, accelerating the integration of low-altitude applications.

本次大会取得了丰硕的合作成果，包括香港、澳门、广州和珠海在内的多个城市签署了一系列协议，涵盖政企合作、科研联盟以及运营创新等领域。这些举措旨在构建网络化产业生态，加快低空应用的融合发展。

Zhang Hu, executive vice governor of Guangdong, emphasized the GBA's readiness for robust growth of the low-altitude economy, noting that the region boasts an exceptional innovation environment, world-class business conditions, and a mature industrial system.

广东省常务副省长张虎强调，粤港澳大湾区已具备推动低空经济实现强劲发展的良好基础，并指出该地区拥有卓越的创新环境、世界一流的营商条件以及成熟的产业体系。

Hong Kong is leveraging its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework. In March, the city launched a "regulatory sandbox" for low-altitude projects, enabling controlled testing of technologies and infrastructure.

香港正依托“一国两制”的独特优势推进发展。今年3月，香港推出了低空项目“监管沙盒”，实现了技术和基础设施的受控测试。

Michael Wong, deputy financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and head of its low-altitude economy task force, said, "As an international financial, shipping and trade hub, Hong Kong will fully utilize its role as a super-connector to collaborate with Guangzhou and other GBA cities in advancing high-quality development of the low-altitude economy."

香港特别行政区政府财政司副司长兼低空经济专责小组组长黄志光表示：“香港作为国际金融、航运和贸易中心，将充分发挥超级联系人的作用，与广州等大湾区城市协同推进低空经济高质量发展。”

Macao has also established a dedicated task force for the development of the low-altitude economy.

澳门也已成立低空经济发展专责小组。

"Low-altitude economy is a national strategic industry and a new engine for GBA integration," Tai Kin Ip, secretary for economy and finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region government, said, adding that Macao will strengthen cooperation with fellow cities to contribute to high-quality development of the sector.

澳门特别行政区政府经济财政司司长叶大健表示：“低空经济是国家战略性产业，也是大湾区一体化发展的新引擎。”他补充说，澳门将加强与其他城市的合作，为该行业的高质量发展做出贡献。

A 2025 blue book on GBA low-altitude industry released by China Economic Information Service highlights the need for synergy among Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai as core hubs, coupled with deeper integration with Hong Kong and Macao.

中国经济信息社发布的《2025年大湾区低空产业蓝皮书》强调，应以广州、深圳和珠海为核心枢纽加强协同发展，并进一步深化与香港和澳门更深层次的融合。