Nansha, Macao seek deeper integration through trade, finance links

Guangzhou's Nansha district and Macao are moving to deepen cooperation beyond individual projects, with lawmakers and experts from both sides calling for closer alignment in trade, finance, logistics and professional rules at a policy seminar in Macao on March 31.

The discussion, held to map out how Nansha will proceed during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), pointed to a broader shift in ties with the island economy: from project-based cooperation to platform building and institutional connectivity.

Participants said such efforts would not only help Macao better integrate into national development but also strengthen the two sides' joint global reach.

One project high on the agenda was the Guangdong-Macao supply chain center for premium food products from Portuguese-speaking countries, which was launched in Nansha in December 2024.

Legislators said the project could turn Macao's role as a China-Portuguese platform and Nansha's port and industrial strengths into a more complete trade chain covering customs clearance, trading, processing, distribution and transshipment.

An aerial view of Nansha port. [Photo/WeChat account: nanshafabu]

They also proposed building a collaborative platform for automobile exports, linking Nansha's manufacturing and shipping capacity with Macao's strengths in offshore trade, cross-border settlement and supply chain finance.

Speakers further urged easier cross-border capital flows, better professional qualification recognition, and more efficient legal and dispute-resolution mechanisms, arguing that stronger rule alignment will be key to making cooperation broader, deeper and more sustainable.