Xing Huina:

Thank you. Now the floor is open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.

CCTV: 

The Nansha plan clearly states that accelerated efforts will be made to build a scientific and technological innovation industry cooperation base, a youth entrepreneurship and employment cooperation platform, a high-level opening-up portal, a high ground for convergence of rules and mechanisms, and a model of high-quality urban development in Nansha. Please tell us what are the considerations for determining these five tasks? What specific measures are there? Thank you.

Guo Lanfeng:

Thank you for your questions. The Nansha plan clearly intends to deepen the comprehensive cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in Nansha. When we say "comprehensive cooperation," it not only means that we cover Hong Kong and Macao, but also that this kind of cooperation is not limited to some specific aspects, but will cover all key areas of economic and social development. To this end, the plan focuses on such key tasks as scientific and technological innovation, innovative employment, opening up to the outside world, rule convergence, and urban development, and therefore deploys the five tasks. The main considerations and specific measures are:

First, constructing a scientific and technological innovation industry cooperation base. Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao are rich in scientific and technological innovation resources. The Nansha plan has put forward many powerful measures to strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Among the measures, corporate income tax will be levied at a reduced rate of 15% for enterprises in industries that are being encouraged in the pioneering zones; Hong Kong and Macao residents working in Nansha will be exempted from the portion of their personal income tax that exceeds the tax burden of Hong Kong and Macao. All these measures are expected to greatly boost the gathering of high-tech enterprises and talents in Nansha.

Second, creating a youth entrepreneurship and employment cooperation platform. The Nansha plan clearly includes eligible Hong Kong and Macao residents into the scope of local entrepreneurship subsidies, strengthens the guarantee of supporting services for employment, and provides convenient conditions for accommodation, commuting, and children's enrollment in kindergartens and schools so as to promote the establishment of a hot spot for Hong Kong and Macao youths to innovate and start businesses here.

Third, jointly building a high-level opening-up portal. Nansha is one of the important intersections of the domestic and international circulations and has the unique advantage of connecting the two markets and utilizing the resources of the two. The Nansha plan proposes that Nansha will play an important role in strengthening international economic cooperation and other aspects. According to it, Nansha will study how to further reduce the access threshold for Hong Kong's professional service industry to provide services in the mainland, and rely on Guangzhou, especially Nansha's industrial and market foundation, to join hands with Hong Kong and Macao to continuously deepen international economic and trade cooperation and promote the construction of a new high ground for opening up to the outside world.

Fourth, creating a high ground for convergence of rules and mechanisms. Convergence of rules and mechanisms is one of the key points and difficulties in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA. When the rules are connected and converged, the flow of factors will be smooth. The Nansha plan requires Nansha to actively explore and promote the "soft connection" of the rules and mechanisms in the aspects such as improving the level of connection with Hong Kong's and Macao's financial markets, public services, and social management. The plan clearly supports Nansha's pilot projects in cross-border motor vehicle insurance, cross-border commercial medical insurance, etc., and promotes the convergence of the rules of the GBA in depth.

Fifth, establishing a model of high-quality urban development. Accelerating the development and construction of Nansha is an important measure for old city Guangzhou to gain new vitality and make new and outstanding achievements in comprehensive urban functions, comprehensive urban cultural strength, modern service industry, and modern international business environment. The Nansha plan explicitly states that Nansha should deepen cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in the fields of urban planning and construction, smart city management, and eco-environmental protection so as to promote the modernization of the urban governance system and governance capacity and create a high-quality living circle that is suitable for living, working and traveling.

The five tasks set in the Nansha plan points out the main direction for the construction of a major cooperation platform for Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in Nansha. Next, in accordance with the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, we will work with relevant departments and the governments of Guangdong province and Guangzhou city to continuously deepen our understanding and promote the implementation of these tasks with substantial results. Thank you!