Plan maps out Shenzhen's future as a hub for high-end services

The plan sees Shenzhen becoming a high-end services centre.

Shenzhen should focus on developing logistics, financial, foreign trade and exhibition business, the plan says, and continue to build up port facilities, airport and railway systems. It also says Shenzhen should strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong.

Chen Guanghan, director of the Pearl River Delta Research Centre, said: '[In] the plan, Shenzhen's role as the financial centre of southern China will be consolidated.

'The central government will further relax rules and policies to help Shenzhen build up its capital market. Hong Kong banks and financial institutes will be in an excellent position to benefit from these developments.'

He said the city also needed to attract more Hong Kong professionals. 'This will give even more opportunities to Hong Kong accountants, lawyers and other professionals to expand their business on the mainland,' he said.

Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong said last week that the city would shift its development focus from speed to quality. He told cadres at a Communist Party meeting that it was time for Shenzhen to aim for quality investment instead of low-end projects.