The governments of Guangdong and Macao agreed to strengthen cooperation in 11 key areas yesterday.

The governments plan to work together to push forward Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) regional cooperation in the Hengqin Economic Cooperation Zone, service sectors, cross-border industrial zones, infrastructure, tourism, cross-border checkpoints, technology and education.

Guangdong will enhance its support for Macao's role as a regional business service platform and for investment by Guangdong businesses in Macao, said Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua after the Macao/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference held in Guangzhou yesterday.

The conference laid a sound foundation for the long-term sustainable development of Macao and Guangdong, said Edmund Ho Hau-wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The first joint conference was held in Macao last year.

Huang said research reports on the development of the proposed bridge linking Macao, Hong Kong and the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong are expected to be finalized at the end of this year or early next year.

The development of Hengqin Island, the largest island in Zhuhai, which borders Macao, would be jointly carried out by Pan-PRD members, Huang said. Research on the development of the island is ongoing.

Launched in June this year, the Pan-PRD cooperation scheme covers nine provinces on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

The Zhuhai side of Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone has clinched 13 contracts for investment worth about HK$300 million (US$3.84 million).

Construction of three of those projects is scheduled to start later this month, with infrastructure construction still going on.

Guangdong and Macao plan to work together to enhance the passenger- and vehicle-handling efficiency at cross-border check points by applying more advanced electronic equipment, Huang said.

Official statistics indicate direct investment from Macao into Guangdong had grown to US$3.32 billion by the end of October this year.

(China Daily December 1, 2004)