Xinhua News Agency:

The plan puts forward that major issues related to the Shenzhen park should be addressed in a coordinated way under the leadership of the central leading group for coordinated regional development. Could you brief us on this central leading group? Furthermore, what is its connection with the leading group for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA? Thank you.

Guo Lanfeng:

I'll take these questions. You have noticed the difference, and this perceptive observation suggests that you have carefully reviewed the plan. Thank you for posing these questions.

As we know, since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally made development plans, deployments, and decisions regarding major regional strategies. These include the well-known strategies like the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, and the Hainan Free Trade Port, to name just a few. After the 20th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee decided to merge the leading groups responsible for these major strategies into one "central leading group for coordinated regional development." In my opinion, this move aims to ensure the Party's leadership over all endeavors and institutionalize and specify such leadership on regional economic development. The move also helps to make plans for these major regional strategies at a higher level, and with a strategic perspective and a holistic approach, and further coordinate key policies related to these strategies in a systemic manner.

The major function of this central leading group, which, of course, contains those of the leading group for the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, is to examine key decisions, plans, policies, projects, and annual work arrangements related to major strategies. It will also coordinate efforts to address key issues and oversee the implementation of key tasks. Regarding major issues related to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, we have also invited the chief executives of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs to participate. In the meantime, in accordance with major issues and tasks, we have also set up special work teams and inter-departmental joint meeting mechanisms under guidance of the central leading group in a bid to concentrate efforts and carry out specific tasks within defined timeframes. This concludes my response to your first question.

We have all attached great importance to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, as it is one of China's three growth drivers, alongside the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta. General Secretary Xi Jinping has also recognized the significance of this strategy and has delivered a series of significant speeches and instructions accordingly. This year, during an inspection tour in Guangdong, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA should be developed into a strategic hub for the new development pattern, a demonstration zone for high-quality development, and a pioneering area for Chinese modernization. This summarizes General Secretary Xi Jinping's guiding instructions on steering the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA from a holistic and strategic perspective. This also adds new key dimensions to the area's development and sets additional higher requirements for all efforts.

The office of the leading group is set within the NDRC. Members of the leading group office will thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the decisions of the CPC Central Committee. In accordance with the arrangement of the leading group, the office will also collaborate with relevant parties, continue implementing major regional strategies such as that relating to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, promptly solve difficulties and issues and make concrete efforts to develop the area into a strategic hub for the new development pattern, a demonstration zone for high-quality development, and a pioneering area for Chinese modernization. Thank you.