Guangdong governor to boost Pearl River Delta integration project

Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaodan told provincial people's congress deputies yesterday that the provincial government would unleash a new multi-year initiative to speed up the delta's integration.

In his government work report he also said it would push ahead with financial reform in the Pearl River Delta region, focusing on Nansha in Guangzhou, Qianhai in Shenzhen and Hengqin in Zhuhai .

"Co-ordinating development between rural and urban areas is one of the most important and difficult tasks of our province," Zhu said.

The integration of cities under the Pearl River Delta Reform and Development planning framework is a priority of the province's 12th five-year plan.

The framework was endorsed by the State Council in 2009 as a regional development blueprint up to 2020.

But with only eight years left until the end of 2020, Guangdong is racing against time to complete delta integration.