Highlights of development plan for Bay Area

Chinese authorities unveiled the outline development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area late Monday, aiming to develop the region into "a role model of high-quality development."

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. [Photo/Xinhua]

The plan, an important outline document guiding the current and future cooperation and development of the Greater Bay Area, was released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. It covers the period from now to 2022 in the immediate term and extends to 2035 in the long term.

Let's take a look at its highlights.

Greater Bay Area possesses fundamental conditions for world-class city cluster

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a marked increase in its economic strength and regional competitiveness, already possesses the fundamental conditions for developing into an international first-class bay area and a world-class city cluster, says the outline development plan.

Such foundation of development is made up of distinctive geographical advantages, robust economic strength, high concentration of key factors of innovation, advanced level of internationalization and solid cooperation foundations, the plan says.

The plan also notes the opportunities and challenges for the development and stresses the plan's significance.

Development objectives for Greater Bay Area

By 2022, the framework should essentially be formed for an international first-class bay area and world-class city cluster that is vibrant and highly innovative with an optimized industrial structure, a smooth flow of various factors and a pleasant ecological environment, according to the plan for the Greater Bay Area development.

By 2035, the Greater Bay Area should become an economic system and mode of development mainly supported by innovation, with its economic and technological strengths vastly increased and its international competitiveness and influence further strengthened, according to the plan.

Spatial layout for Greater Bay Area

The plan calls for measures to build a spatial network driven by poles and supported by axes, improve the development system of the city cluster and towns, and radiate the development to the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region.

It calls for a rational division of labor and complementary positioning among large, medium-sized and small cities.

Efforts should be made to further enhance coordination in regional development, facilitate the integrated development of urban and rural areas, and build a scientifically structured, compact and highly efficient bay area development framework, the plan says.

To develop Greater Bay Area into global innovation, technology hub

According to the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, efforts will be made to build an open community for coordinated innovation in the region, develop quality innovation and technology carriers and platforms, and enhance the environment for innovation in the region.

It also requires efforts to pool together international innovation resources, optimize the innovation system and policy environment, focus on enhancing the capability for the commercial application of technological achievements, and develop a focused area of global technological innovation and a major source of emerging industries.

To expedite infrastructural connectivity for Greater Bay Area

Efforts will be made to build a modern comprehensive transport system, enhance and upgrade information infrastructure, develop an energy security protection system, and strengthen protection for the security of water resources in the Greater Bay Area.

To build globally competitive modern industrial system for Greater Bay Area

Efforts will be made to expedite the development of the advanced manufacturing industry, nurture and strengthen strategic emerging industries, expedite the development of modern service industries, and vigorously develop the marine economy, according to the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

It also stresses the need to raise industries' development levels to advanced international standards, promote the complementarity, coordination and interconnected development of industries, and nurture a number of world-class industry clusters.

To promote ecological conservation in Greater Bay Area

The plan stresses establishing ecological protection barriers, strengthening environmental protection and management, and adopting an innovative, green and low-carbon development model.

To develop quality living circle for living, working, traveling in Greater Bay Area

Efforts will be made to develop an education and talents hub, jointly develop a cultured Greater Bay Area, build a Greater Bay Area for leisure, expand the scope for employment and entrepreneurship, shape a healthy Greater Bay Area and foster cooperation in social security and social governance.

The plan stresses upholding the philosophy of people-centered development and proactively expanding cooperation in the fields such as education, culture, tourism and social security in the Greater Bay Area.

To strengthen Belt and Road cooperation in developing Greater Bay Area

Efforts should be made to create a globally competitive business environment, increase the level of market integration, and jointly expand opening-up, said the plan.

It called for joint efforts to develop new strengths in international economic and trade cooperation, which will provide solid support to the Belt and Road Initiative.

To advance Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation platforms

The plan aims to accelerate the development of major platforms such as Qianhai of Shenzhen, Nansha of Guangzhou and Hengqin of Zhuhai, and fully leverage their experimental and demonstration functions in deepening reform, expanding the scope of opening-up and fostering cooperation.

It also aims to expand the development potential of Hong Kong and Macao, promote collaboration in public services, and spearhead comprehensive cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

Implementation of Greater Bay Area development plan stressed

Major tasks should be taken forward, the plan says, urging relevant central ministries, in the context of their own responsibilities, to concentrate on formulating concrete policies and measures supporting the development of the Greater Bay Area, strengthen communication with the governments of Guangdong province as well as the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and uphold the rule of law and market-based approach in coordinating and resolving issues that arise from the Greater Bay Area development.

The plan also demands efforts to prevent and mitigate major risks and calls for broader social participation in the development of the Greater Bay Area.