Hong Kong released its GDP figures for last year. The data has provoked discussions on whether Shenzhen has surpassed the Special Administrative Region to top the cluster of cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He Weiwei explains.

On the last day of February, Hong Kong released data showing its GDP for 2017 stands at 2.66 trillion HK dollars. Some reports say that's equivalent to 2.15 trillion RMB, according to the exchange rate that day. That means Shenzhen's GDP of 2.24 trillion RMB for the same period has surpassed Hong Kong's for the first time, and tops the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. But other experts say GDP figures should be converted by the annual average exchange rate, not that of a single day. If so, HK's 2017 GDP is 2.3 trillion RMB, and still higher than Shenzhen's.

Professor of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies, at Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhang Guangnan, says there is a lot more to focus on than just rankings.

PROFESSOR ZHANG GUANGNAN SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY "The ranking of a single indicator is not that important. GDP represents economic aggregate and its growth, not social development and maturity. It's more important for us to focus on multiple aspects of a city's sustainable development, including the economy, society and environmental resources, to enhance cooperation between cities and making a stronger cluster.

Zhang added that Shenzhen has advantages in innovation, talent and its local industrial chain, while Hong Kong keeps its position as a free port and reputation for professional services in finance, trade and shipping. He believes the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area provides unprecedented opportunities for regional cooperation not only for Shenzhen and Hong Kong, but for all 11 cities in the area. HWW, CGTN, Guangdong.