22 NOV 2025

The Fifth International Conference of Global Bay Area Development: Culture and Regional Development

The Fifth International Conference of Global Bay Area Development was successfully held on November 22, bringing together leading scholars from China and abroad to examine how culture shapes regional development. The program centered on three thematic panels: “History Polyphony,” “Language Diversity,” and “The Power of Folklore.”

The conference was hosted by the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies, Sun Yat-sen University (Center for Studies of Hong Kong, Macao and Pearl River Delta), the Boya (Liberal Arts) College, Sun Yat-sen University, the Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Center for Historical Anthropology of Sun Yat-sen University. Co-organizers included the Pan Sutong Shanghai–Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute of Lingnan University, the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures at The Education University of Hong Kong, and the Centre for the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area Studies at the University of Macau. The event strengthens an international platform for academic exchange on Greater Bay Area research.

In “History Polyphony”, scholars explored the Pearl River Delta’s evolving social structures and historical contexts through lenses such as maritime history and lineage-based commerce, offering fresh perspectives on the Greater Bay Area’s distinctive development path.

“Language Diversity” examined language as cultural capital and a strategic asset. Experts highlighted the region’s multilingual strengths—Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Portuguese—and underscored how coordinated planning can enhance cohesion and global competitiveness.

“The Power of Folklore” showcased examples including Cantonese opera, Macao’s intangible heritage, and culinary traditions, demonstrating how intangible cultural heritage can be revitalized amid modernization and serve as a powerful connector of communities and a foundation for regional identity.

Now in its fifth year, the International Academic Conference of Global Bay Area Development has established itself as a flagship forum for academic innovation and international dialogue in the field.