More cutting-edge tech urged in Greater Bay Area

More cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, 5G, cloud computing and 3D digital modeling, should be introduced via infrastructure construction to further enhance connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the years ahead, said a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Su Quanke, chief engineer of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, called on relevant departments and cities in the GBA to make continuous efforts to promote innovation synergy while accelerating the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and boost infrastructure connectivity using more advanced technologies going forward.

Su's proposal was made in Beijing during the ongoing session of China's top political advisory body.

Su's remarks came amid the country's aim to build the area into a more competitive global hub, a prosperous city cluster in South China and one with a high degree of openness.

"The following decade will be important for the infrastructure construction and upgrading in the Greater Bay Area," he said.

To this end, Su said relevant departments should launch an initiative to expand research into digitalization of infrastructure facilities to help speed up construction of major projects and overcome technical difficulties and bottlenecks in infrastructure construction in the GBA in the months ahead.

Su added that local-level governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao should introduce a new innovation management mechanism to improve the management, operation and maintenance of major infrastructure projects, including expressways, bridges, tunnels, harbors and piers that link the three regions.

Meanwhile, good consultation and cooperation among local governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao on the construction of infrastructure projects should be accelerated and promoted in the future, he said.

"The transportation industry must introduce a coordinated development and unified management mechanism, and change the status quo of low efficiency and wastage of limited resources, and promote the sector to a new standard," Su added.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area covers Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

The cities are now linked by advanced high-speed railway and expressway networks and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that operates across the mouth of the Pearl River. The GBA, which occupies less than 1 percent of the country's total land area, is home to more than 5 percent of the nation's population.