Xu Shaoshi, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said there is a great potential for further economic cooperation between Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao, China.org.cn reported.

Xu Shaoshi, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, made the remarks while giving a press conference in Beijing on Thursday for the third session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) on the economic situation and macroeconomic control.[Photo/China.org.cn]

Minister Xu made the remarks while giving a press conference in Beijing on Thursday for the third session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) on the economic situation and macroeconomic control.

Xu analyzed three solid foundations in the prospects for development between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

First, the cooperation between the Pan-Pearl River Delta and the "9+2" Super Economic Circle has been operating for 10 years, forming a mature cooperative system and achieving notable effects. The cooperative system has played an important role in promoting the development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and other provinces along the Pearl River.

The "9+2" Super Economic Circle covers nine provinces: Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces and two administrative regions: Hong Kong and Macao.

Second, there are now significant opportunities in the development of the area. In particular, the establishment of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone is very beneficial for promoting the development of the whole area of Guangdong, the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong and Macao.

Third, there are three other good platforms for the development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao - Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin, which are all located in Guangdong Province.

“On the basis of these three platforms, I think it is very significant for us to strengthen infrastructure connections in the region and plan the further development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao,” said Xu, adding that the further development can also be combined with the compilation of the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) to conduct in-depth research.

Nansha, located in Guangzhou, was designated a state-level new area in October 2012; Hengqin, located in Zhuhai, was selected by the State Council as a New Area in December 2009 in order to enhance economic ties with Hong Kong and Macao. Qianhai, located in Shenzhen, is a new commercial development area under construction which will be built into the Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.