On June 25, 2026, the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Water Forum cum 16th Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Water Supply Academic Exchange Conference grandly opened at the Tianmu Qintai Conference Centre in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. With the core theme of “Water Nurtures the Bay Area, Intelligence Navigates the Future”, the forum brought together authoritative experts, industry leaders, and professionals in the water sector from the Greater Bay Area’s “9+2” cities. Participants engaged in academic discussions, technical exchanges, and experience sharing to support the high-quality, intelligent, and sustainable development of water affairs in the Greater Bay Area. Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee, Chairman of the University Advisory Committee, Director and Chief Scientist of the Key Laboratory of River Basin Digital Twinning of Ministry of Water Resources (MUST) was invited as a keynote speaker to share his research and professional insights on water security issues. 

The forum was jointly organized by water authorities from the “9+2” cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and hosted by The Macao Water Supply Company Limited. Attendees included Zhang Guoji, Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Executive Committee; Wong Soi Man, Director of the Marine and Water Affairs Bureau; Fong Fong Tan, Director of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Livelihood Affairs Bureau; Wang Jie, Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Urban Planning and Construction Bureau; Xu Beilei, Director of the Zhuhai Water Affairs Bureau; Ding Jianghua, Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Ecological Environment Bureau; along with leaders from water authorities of the “9+2” cities.

During the keynote session, Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee delivered a keynote lecture titled “Hydro-environmental Modeling Research for Adaptive Water Security Management and Urban Resilience“- providing an in-depth overview of hydro-environmental modeling as the cornerstone of digital twin and AI technology in urban flood prevention, eco-hydraulics and urban resilience. The other two keynote speakers were Academicians Ma Jun and Yu Gang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee Delivering the Keynote Speech

After the keynote speech, the three keynote speakers participated in an expert salon dialogue moderated by Dr. Fan Xiaojun, Managing Director of The Macao Water Supply Company Limited. The discussion focused on current challenges, advanced experiences, and future trends in water management in the Greater Bay Area, offering strategic directions and technical pathways for improving water resource management, addressing extreme climate challenges, and advancing smart water systems.

Expert Salon Dialogue

The GBA Water Forum is jointly initiated by 11 water utilities, namely the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Macao Water Supply Company Limited, Guangzhou Water Investment Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Water and Environment Group Co., Ltd., Zhuhai Water Environment Holdings Group Ltd., Guangdong Foshan Water Environment Technology Group, Huizhou Water Group, Dongguan Water Environment Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., Zhongshan Public Utilities Group Co., Ltd., Jiangmen Public Water & Environment Co., Ltd, and Zhaoqing Water Group Ltd. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Water Supply Seminar, to be held concurrently, is jointly initiated by the water supply institutions of Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao.