With support and facilitation from the Hengqin Innovative Finance Research Institute, postgraduate students from the Faculty of Finance of the City University of Macau (CityU Macau) had a successful field trip to the Hengqin Innovative Finance Research Institute and Hengqin New Area Exhibition Hall on 24 May 2021.
A group of 31 master’s students from the Faculty of Finance of CityU Macau participated in the field trip. Director Tang Shiqi of the Hengqin Innovative Finance Research Institute received the students and facilitated the communication. The field trip marked a major move in implementing the Faculty’s development guideline of “Hengqin-Macao Cooperation—Facilitate Cultivation of Financial Talent in the Greater Bay Area” and it was also a joint endeavour made by both sides in advancing the cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutions in Hengqin and Macao.
That afternoon’s schedule was fully packed. After arriving at Hengqin Port, the students first visited the Hengqin Innovative Finance Research Institute. They were welcomed by Director Tang, who also gave them an overview in the conference room of the policy support provided by the Management Committee of Hengqin New Area for Macao young people to start up their businesses in Hengqin. In addition, he explained the two main drivers behind the establishment of the Institute, its three major functions and the plan to recruit university students as summer interns. Deeply interested in these topics, the students raised a number of questions, which were all carefully answered by Director Tang. After that, the student representative presented a souvenir of CityU Macau to Director Tang. In the exchange session, teachers and students from Macao and Hengqin had an in-depth discussion concerning the challenges and opportunities facing Hengqin now, as well as the direction of its future development. The meeting concluded with a big round of applause from the students.
The second stop of the visit was Hengqin New Area Exhibition Hall. With the help of a docent, the students had a more intuitive understanding of the master plan and the direction of Hengqin’s development through sand tables carrying substantial information and animation effects that made them feel physically present. Special attention was drawn to Hengqin’s unique role as a national-level new area situated at the junction of the Mainland and the special administrative regions, connecting China with the outside world. They also discovered more about the goals to reshape Hengqin into a demonstration zone for in-depth cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, as well as a new vehicle to promote Macao’s adequate economic diversification through close collaboration and integrated development of Guangzhou and Macao against the backdrop of the in-depth integration of the two areas. In both the short-term and the long-term plan, Hengqin’s transportation, education and infrastructure will develop along a fast track; Macao industry players will be encouraged to build their presence and young people in Macao will also be welcome to start their businesses or embark on their careers in Hengqin. At the end, the students took some photos in front of the Exhibition Hall and the field trip ended before sunset.
The field trip came as the latest one of the exchanges following the cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Finance of CityU Macau and Hengqin Innovative Finance Research Institute. The continuous communication and joint research have given students a more concrete perspective of the cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, greatly improved their awareness of relevant policies and boosted their confidence in contributing to the Hengqin-Macao cooperation. Besides, these efforts have also shed light on the weak links in the cooperation, with a special focus on the current drawbacks in its development. The knowledge will inspire students to become practical professionals who can meet the demands of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the future.