Go well in the GBA – ‘smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts’

People enjoy sunset inside a ferris wheel at Canton Tower in Guangzhou [Photo: Xinhua]

ANALYSIS

Xi Jinping continues to prioritise the people’s well-being. This is a cornerstone of people-centred development as reported by the Supreme People’s Court earlier this year. Guiding and motivating the population to create a happy life through increased security and a better standard of living is a message that continues to be promoted. Xi’s frequent travels across the country, meeting with ordinary citizens, serves as both a symbolic gesture and actual support for the population at large. Statements from the Ministry of Finance indicating that 70 percent of government spending last year was aimed at improving people’s lives is clear evidence where Beijing’s focus lies.

At a country-wide level, social welfare and economic stability, together with meaningful and decent work – the eighth UN Sustainable Development Goal – are the foundations of community well-being. In his 2025 New Year address, Xi again highlighted the government’s work in this area: an increase in the basic pension, lowering of mortgage rates, and making medical treatment more accessible through easier payments settlements. However, a new development is the shift in emphasis in the statements and philosophical position – with economic development no longer being the ultimate goal but as the means to a better life: from growth economies to well-being economies.

Growing focus on research and practice

Interest in well-being in general is gaining traction as leaders in the community and organisations attempt to manage it. A quick look at the rise in absolute numbers of academic papers published on the subject suggest that it is becoming an area of growing relevance and interest.

Organisational Psychologists – professionals who apply scientific methods to improve workplace dynamics and job performance – also focus on how well-being can be improved. Their efforts are not simply because they are generous fellows who want workers to feel good about life, but because companies and communities benefit when work is done in this area.

There is now strong evidence that positive emotions, good relationships, being engaged in purposeful and meaningful activity, and accomplishing things of value help us to manage and develop well-being. When people feel good about themselves and life is going well, they are more likely to be happy, content and self-accepting. If physical, psychological, social and other forms of wellbeing are supported, companies and organisations also benefit from higher levels of employee creativity and innovation. Workers are also motivated to serve customers, and are more willing to take the risk to contribute ideas and solutions to problems they encounter.

In terms of social well-being, a plethora of benefits comes from liking and trusting the people we live and work alongside. The effects are both immediate and cascading – teams are more efficient and enjoyable to work in, companies retain better performers, communities face fewer healthcare burdens, and social cohesion and resilience grow stronger. Among other research like the popular Blue Zones studies, the Grant Study – a 85-year longitudinal project out of Harvard – continues to tell us that the happiest and healthiest people are not those with more wealth, education or status. Instead, they are the ones who can point to someone close to them with whom they can share joys and confide in.

In our busy individualised world of solitary device-driven entertainment, social connection is making a comeback. We are rediscovering the strength that comes from belonging to a community and how good we feel when we are connected and supported. Individual well-being, community thriving, and economic stability are all part of an eco-system, where each element works in synergy to deliver positive outcomes for society as a whole.

Within the GBA, Macau is described as a family-oriented, community-minded society. It is a village: go to the theatre or walk downtown and inevitably one will encounter very familiar faces. We might expect that this cohesion would shield Macau to some extent from mental health problems, but increased levels of suicide and depression suggest a more complex story. Rather than relying solely on the care of the “village,” the  government is now integrating support for well-being into education and training. At the same time, residents are being encouraged to seek professional help from counsellors, social workers and psychologists.

Social interaction and mental health

That is not to say that community and social engagement play a minor role in mental health; on the contrary. A recent study published in Fontiers in Public Health this year explored older generations in all three regions of the GBA, where 20% of older Chinese adults experience depression. The researchers argued that understanding the different drivers of well-being is critical to cultural integration and regional connectivity in the GBA.

Drawing on the same idea that social interaction would improve mental health, they looked at how participation in social activities affected the well-being of older adults in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. They found that social interaction improved mental health across the GBA, and that the more types of activities the elderly were involved in, the better their mental health outcomes. Intergenerational support and communication – especially multi-generational living – really helped improve mental well-being driven by social activity.

Types of social interaction among the elderly: Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau 2023 ( By Frontiers in Public Health, 2025)

Social interaction appeared to have a stronger impact on older people in Macau and Hong Kong. Researchers pointed to the urban environment where the proximity to friends, family and community spaces presented more opportunities for social interaction. The sheer range of services provided by community centres in those regions further supports engagement. It is also mooted that the historical cultural integration of Hong Kong and Macau as international hubs – with their openness to others – might foster a deeper sense of community engagement in these two regions.

In terms of differences, Hong Kong residents had the highest levels of social interaction, followed by those in Macau and Guangdong. The types of activities also varied: outdoor activities were most common in Guangdong as were growing flowers and keeping pets. In contrast, elderly respondents in Macau and Hong Kong spent more time reading than their mainland counterparts.

These differences have potential to impact attempts at cultural integration mentioned earlier, since any single intervention will play out differently depending upon historical and geographic contexts, levels of urbanisation, personal preferences and social norms, and lifestyle schema.  Nuanced comparative studies like this help us appreciate the importance of understanding context in detail.

Looking ahead, well-being outcomes across the GBA will continue to require evidence-based interventions that are carefully tailored to the specific needs of our respective communities. Leanda Lee, MDT

Key Takeaways

Xi’s shift from growth-first economics to well-being-first governance signals a national recalibration: social security, pensions, healthcare access and quality-of-life gains are becoming explicit metrics of political and policy success.

Well-being research and organisational psychology confirm that positive emotions, trust, purpose and social connectedness yield wide economic dividends – from higher creativity and productivity to stronger community resilience and lower long-term social costs.

GBA studies show social interaction is a decisive mental-health driver among older adults, with Macau and Hong Kong benefiting most from dense urban networks –  underscoring why integration policies must be context-specific.