This undated photo shows a night view of Zhuhai, a Guangdong province city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao on Thursday jointly launched the Greater Bay Area (GBA) International Information Technology Association and held an inauguration ceremony.

The association aims to boost the information technology (IT) development and application by leveraging combined advantages of the overall GBA region.

It plans to undertake related policy research work, set up communication and cooperation platforms for enterprises to enhance the regional connectivity in the IT sector, and nurture young IT engineers and talents for the region.

To push for cross-boundary data and digital renminbi in GBA, the association announced the establishment of the big data and financial technology expert groups for discussing related policies, technology research and development and applications, and international cooperation for the GBA region.

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Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is also chairman of the association, emphasized cross-boundary data as the top priority for the GBA integrated development.

Either for economic and industrial operation or for local people's livelihood, interconnectivity with the cross-boundary data between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will play a decisive role in the integrated development of GBA cities, according to Leung.