Guangdong province intends to extend cooperation with the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau in order to create a world-class region that can be equated to New York or Tokyo, said on Monday in Beijing the provincial governor.

Ma Xingrui noted there have been major developments in regional cooperation, citing as examples the Guangdong Free Trade Zone and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

“The area of the Great Bay of Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macau, which will be created, will experience accelerated development and be a strong competitor to other similar regions worldwide, such as New York or Tokyo,” said Ma, who leads the Guangdong delegation at the fifth session of the 12th National People’s Congress.

Last Sunday, Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced that the central government will draw up a plan for the development of a cluster of cities in the Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macau region and added that this plan aims to take advantage of the specific advantages of Hong Kong and Macau to deepen the role they play in the economic development and opening up of China. (macauhub)