On the morning of July 28, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sub-center of the World Meteorological Center (Beijing) and the Greater Bay Area Meteorological Technology Integration Innovation Platform (hereinafter referred to as the World Meteorological Sub-center) was held at Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. Zeng Cong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Meteorological Bureau, Liu Jinluan, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Meteorological Bureau, and Wang Datong, Member of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Guangzhou Development District, along with other leaders, attended the event and laid soil for the foundation stone.
Photo: Groundbreaking ceremony site (Photo by Chen Chong, Huangpu District Meteorological Bureau)
In his speech, Zeng Cong emphasized that the World Meteorological Sub-center project is a people’s livelihood project that implements the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on meteorological work and strengthens the first line of defense for meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is a multi-win project that embodies the principles of "gathering wisdom and strength, co-construction, and sharing," as outlined in the Five-Party Cooperation Framework Agreement. Since the signing of the agreement just a few months ago, the project has made significant progress, with the foundation laid and full-scale construction underway. The official launch of the website for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sub-center of the World Meteorological Center (Beijing) also highlights the pioneering, pragmatic, and enterprising spirit of the Guangzhou Development District. It reflects the high-level cooperation, high-standard support, and high-efficiency advancement of the project. Zeng expressed hope that the contractors would meet high standards and strict requirements, turning the project into a landmark example and a model project in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City.
Wang Datong, in his speech, noted that the World Meteorological Sub-center project is a specific action in response to General Secretary Xi Jinping's major decisions on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and his expectations for the Development District. The establishment of the project in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City reflects the care and support of the China Meteorological Administration, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, as well as the attention from the provincial and municipal meteorological bureaus towards Huangpu District and Guangzhou Development District. Wang called on all relevant units to strengthen communication, reverse time schedules, and advance project construction with high standards, aiming for a "world-class, China-leading, Greater Bay Area-distinctive" outcome.
A representative of the general contractor, China Construction Third Engineering Bureau South Co., Ltd., stated that the company would fully leverage its leading position in the construction industry and maintain a "dare to be first, strive for excellence" corporate spirit. The company is committed to managing the construction to the highest standards, in line with the goal of creating a world-class demonstration project.
The World Meteorological Sub-center project is located in the Science and Education Innovation Zone of Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, covering a planned land area of 12,846 square meters with a total construction area of 40,400 square meters. It will house operational, experimental, science education, and international academic exchange and training functions for the World Meteorological Sub-center and the Meteorological Technology Integration Innovation Platform. The total investment for the project is planned at 680 million yuan, jointly funded by the province, city, and district.
The construction of the World Meteorological Sub-center is a key project in the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Meteorological Development Plan," the provincial-municipal "Memorandum of Cooperation on Advancing the First Line of Defense for Meteorological Disaster Prevention and Mitigation as a Demonstration Province," and the "Three-Year Action Plan for Meteorological Development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong Section) (2021-2023)." It is also a key task in the "14th Five-Year Plan for Meteorological Development in Guangdong Province," the "14th Five-Year Plan for Meteorological Development in Guangzhou," and the "14th Five-Year Plan and 2035 Vision for National Economic and Social Development of Huangpu District and Guangzhou Development District." Since the project officially started in September 2020, it has received significant care and support from leaders at all levels of the province, city, and district. With the completion of the preliminary procedures, including utilities and site leveling, the project is now ready for full-scale construction.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by officials from the relevant functional departments of the provincial and municipal meteorological bureaus, district-related units, project supervisors, designers, and representatives of the general contractor and construction workers. (Reported by Chen Chong from the Huangpu District Meteorological Bureau)
