Nine interior provinces and autonomous region signed a framework agreement on promoting regional cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao Thursday in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province, declaring the formal appearance of the country's largest-scale cross-regional economy.

The Framework Agreement on Regional Cooperation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region involves nine provinces and autonomous region of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The first Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum opened in Hong Kong on Tuesday, continued in theMacao Special Administrative Region on Wednesday and ended Thursday in Guangzhou.

The agreement makes the PPRD region China's largest cross-regional economy, well surpassing the Yangtze River Delta, the Bohai Bay Economic Rim, the old industrial base in northeast Chinaand its vast western region.

The nine provinces and autonomous region account for about one fifth of China's territory and one third of its population and total gross domestic product. Analysts here say the participation of Hong Kong and Macao into the regional economic affairs will help advance China's regional integration to a new height.

According to the agreement, the PPRD members will fully cooperate on fields like energy sharing, infrastructure development, cross-province investment, business and trade, tourism, agriculture, labor services, environmental protection andhealth.

The 11 members agreed to establish a joint meeting mechanism tobe attended by provincial governors and chief executives to push for the regional integration and cooperation while governors and chief executives will meet yearly on a regular basis.
 
 (Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2004)