The three coastal areas in Guangdong province, Qianhai in Shenzhen City, Hengqin in Zhuhai City and Nansha in Guangzhou City, will shine in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation in the next five years.
The three areas, located in the east, west and the center of Pear River estuary respectively and adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, have been included in the draft of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for National Development.
Guangdong province s 12th Five-Year Plan described it as "strategic decision" by the central authorities to support the efforts of Guangdong Province to build a world-class vibrant and competitive city cluster in the Pearl River Delta.
Qianhai, Shenzhen
Shenzhen have worked with Hong Kong to develop Qianhai into South China s Manhattan, in a bid to make the area into a regional transportation hub with the help of its "geographic advantage and Hong Kong's role as an international financial and shipping center,
According to the country s 12th Five-Year Plan, Qianhai in Shenzhen City will accelerate construction of urban rails, water traffic routes and ports, and become a service industries hub in Asia-Pacific by 2020.
Shenzhen people s congress and municipal government are framing related regulations and laws to support an open development environment in Qianhai special district, according to Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin. The GDP in the Qianhai district is expected to reach 150 billion RMB in 2020, he also said.
Nansha, Guangzhou
Nansha, with the largest land area in these three district, is located in the geometrical center of Pearl River Delta. It is the traffic terminal of the cities which are located along the east and west bank of Pearl River estuary, and also the only deepwater port for Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong. The development of Nansha is the strategic focus of Guangzhou s municipal developing planning.
Nansha is going to be a Commercial service hub, science and technology innovation hub and training center in service mainland and Hong Kong.
Guangzhou Party Secretary Zhang Guangning said, Developing the Nansha District will be a drive to build Guangzhou as a modern coastal city.
Wang Dong, director of the Guangzhou urban planning bureau, said Nansha will play a comprehensive role in the Guangdong Hong Kong and Macao cooperation. The city will restudy the location, functions and layout of the area, and carried our a new development plan as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, four other important cross-border infrastructure projects were also listed in the 12th Five-Year Program. They are the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao mega bridge, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express railway, a rail line connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports, and a new checkpoint at Liantang (in Luohu District) /Heung Yuen Wai (in Hong Kong s New Territories).
Hengqin, Zhuhai
Hengqin area is an island and a special economic district neighboring Macao. The area was included by the National Development and Reform Commission as part of the 2008-2020 Pearl River Delta region development plan.
According to the framework agreement on cooperation signed on March 6 by Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Guangdong Province, the two areas will work together to develop the Hengqin Island and the Guangdong-Macao Cooperative Industrial Garden.
Hengqin in Zhuhai City will be developed into a demonstration plot, showcasing new modes of Guangdong Hong Kong and Macao s cooperation, and become a reform and innovation platform to boost industry upgrade in west bank of Pearl River estuary.
When talk to the Hengqin district, Zhuhai Mayor Zhong Shijian was full of expectation. He said, "At present, the district has finished key projects development plan. The approval of innovation polices have made active progress, such as custom, tax, land, financial, industry and informationization polices.
The whole railway line of Guangzhou-Zhuhai intercity railway will be opened to traffic in the end of this year , he revealed.
Meanwhile, four other important cross-border infrastructure projects were also listed in the 12th Five-Year Program. They are the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao mega bridge, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express railway, a rail line connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports, and a new checkpoint at Liantang (in Luohu District) /Heung Yuen Wai (in Hong Kong s New Territories).
(By Olivia)
