Hong Kong: New cash channel for HK retirees in Guangdong, Fujian

Elderly Hong Kong residents receiving social security payouts and living in Guangdong and Fujian provinces can now have their payments deposited directly into designated bank accounts in both provinces.

Under a new policy launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Social Welfare Department on July 6, allowances under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Old Age Living Allowance and the Old Age Allowance (also known as “Fruit Money”) can now be deposited into recipients’ Bank of China or Industrial and Commercial Bank of China accounts in either province.

Built on an interbank clearing system, the new service enables fees for remittances from Hong Kong to Chinese mainland banks to be scrapped, saving each recipient more than HK$1,000 ($128) annually.

Macao: Quantum science facility launched to push innovation

The Macao branch of the Quantum Science Center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area launched on July 9 at a quantum technology application and industry matching conference in Guangdong’s provincial capital, Guangzhou.

Established as a collaborative initiative between the center and Macao’s higher education institutions, with the Macau University of Science and Technology as a key partner, the facility will capitalize on the city’s quantum science strengths and cross-boundary hub status.

Guangzhou: New phase in South China’s maritime evaluation

A new national-level seafarer competence assessment demonstration center — the first of its kind in South China — opened in Nansha, Guangzhou, on July 7. Local officials said the center marks “the start of a new phase” for the region’s maritime evaluation,  featuring “greater standardization, smart technologies and global alignment”.

The center plans to work with global marine equipment makers, including MAN Energy Solutions, ABB Marine and Ports and Alfa Laval, and strengthen engagement with maritime schools and waterborne research bodies to develop a premier collaborative innovation platform.

Shenzhen: Tech powerhouse ranks 2nd in talent competitiveness

Shenzhen ranked second nationwide in the 2025 China Urban New-quality Talent Competitiveness Index released on July 8 by Peking University and Zhaopin.com, trailing only Beijing and surpassing Shanghai.

The report shows Shenzhen attracts the most new-quality talent from other Chinese mainland cities and accounts for 5.16 percent of cross-city talent applications nationwide. The achievement was driven by the southern boomtown’s high-tech industries, a vibrant innovation ecosystem and robust policy support that continue to draw talent from across the country.

Zhuhai: First international all-cargo air route to Kuala Lumpur

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport launched its first international all-cargo route linking the city with the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on July 8.

Up to six flights are expected to be operated weekly, primarily serving cross-border e-commerce goods from major platforms, including Shein, Temu and Shopee.

The new route is expected to push Zhuhai Jinwan Airport’s international cargo throughput beyond 15,000 metric tons by the end of this year. The route’s launch by the first foreign carrier at the airport marks a milestone in expanding Zhuhai’s global air cargo network.

Foshan: Carbon footprint-label certification boosts trade

Foshan King Wonder Hi-Tech Co, which specializes in new materials, plastics and medical supplies in Yundonghai, Sanshui, has received a carbon footprint-label from Guangdong province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, securing the first such certificate recognized in both regions.

The groundbreaking achievement will help the company seize opportunities in green development and international trade, and demonstrates Yundonghai’s strength in advancing the low-carbon transformation of industries.

Huizhou: AgiBot to manufacture robots in Huizhou

AgiBot Innovation Technology Co teamed up with Lens Technology to launch an intelligent robotic production line partnership in Huizhou on July 10.

Following tripartite talks among the Huiyang district authorities, Shanghai-based AI robotic firm AgiBot and Changsha-based smart manufacturer Lens Technology, AgiBot will entrust Lens Technology with producing its robots. The project will be located at an industrial park in Huiyang district that focuses on embodied intelligence.

Huizhou will position AgiBot as its chain leader, bringing in outside enterprises and involving local companies to jointly build an embodied intelligence industry chain.

Dongguan: Garment manufacturers score big in Bangkok

Dongguan led a delegation of 23 garment and apparel firms to the three-day Asia Fashion (Thailand) Show in Bangkok — one of Southeast Asia’s top fashion trade shows. The fair ended on July 11, having attracted more than 20,000 professional buyers from around the world.

Dongguan’s 270-square-meter booth offered a full array of fashion and textile products, ranging from women’s wear and active wear to bags, accessories, fabrics and children’s clothing.

The delegation reportedly gathered more than 300 client leads and struck multiple preliminary cooperation deals during the exhibition.

Zhongshan: Nation’s first silicon carbide stock debuts on HK bourse

Shenzhen-based BASiC Semiconductor Co, backed by Zhongshan Investment Holdings, has gone public on the Hong Kong stock exchange as the country’s first silicon carbide chip stock.

Zhongshan Venture Capital — a subsidiary of Zhongshan Investment Holdings — made a strategic investment in BASiC Semiconductor in 2025. The company started planning an industrialization base in Zhongshan, including dedicated packaging lines for silicon carbide power modules. The project, expected to start operating in the first quarter of next year, will become BASiC Semiconductor’s core manufacturing hub in South China.

So far, eight other portfolio companies of Zhongshan Investment Holdings have applied to list on HKEX, covering multiple strategic emerging sectors, including innovative biomedicine, spatial vision, memory chips and smart mobility.

Jiangmen: Largest semi-submersible crane vessel delivered

China’s largest full-circle slewing semi-submersible crane vessel was delivered in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, on July 8. It was built by Jiangmen Hangtong Shipbuilding Co of China CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co Ltd.

The 110-meter-long, 43.8-meter-wide vessel integrates crane lifting, semi-submersible floating transport and deck cargo operations, filling multiple technical gaps in the nation’s large-tonnage multi-purpose offshore vessels.

The vessel is equipped with a 149-meter crane, enabling the transport of oversized components weighing up to 20,000 tons. It will support the development of offshore wind farms, marine ranching and deep-sea resource exploration.

Zhaoqing: Tunnel breakthrough a milestone for new railway

Drilling of the 3,500-meter-long Jiangjunling tunnel in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province — one of the most technically demanding stretches of the Zhuhai-Zhaoqing high-speed railway project — was completed on July 10.

The Zhuhai-Zhaoqing high-speed railway — Guangdong’s first 350-kilometer-per-hour line fully financed, built and operated by the province — will run through Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Foshan and Zhaoqing upon completion. Its main track will also link up with the Pearl River Delta Hub (Guangzhou New) Airport, which is being built with a total investment of about 42 billion yuan ($6.19 billion) in neighboring Foshan.

Several segments of the new rail line are expected to open late this year, with full completion set for 2027.