1.Reference

The Pan-Pearl River Delta region is comprised of nine provinces and autonomous regions in the Pearl River Delta area of Southern China, plus the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao. The nine provinces and autonomous regions are Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan. The Pan-PRD region has an area of 2.006 million square km, 21 percent of the total area of China. It has a population of 453 million, representing 35 percent of the country's total. In 2003, the region registered a collective GDP of $652.6 billion, which was about 40 percent of China's total economic output.

2.Important moments

Since 2003, Pan-Pearl River Delta regional cooperation, led by Guangdong with the strong support of the other provinces and regions, has drawn wide attention and substantial encouragement.

On October 13, 2014, the Joint Meeting of Executive Heads of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation was held in Guangzhou when the 11 parties signed the Common Declaration on Deepening Cooperation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region (2015-2025), which further improved the cooperation mechanism.

In March 2016, deepening Pan-Pearl River Delta cooperation was formally written into the Outline of the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China, and the State Council formally issued Guiding Opinions on Deepening Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation, which has become a part of all-round national strategy.

3.Aims

Based on the principle of “One country, two systems”, inland provinces participating in the PPRD regional cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao SARs, complying with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China and the relevant laws and regulations. Cooperation is carried out within the framework of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). According to the general requirement of the national economy and social development plan, all parties shall adhere to regional harmonious and sustainable development, give full play to each others’ advantages and characteristics, and respect and benefit each other. They shall promote regional cooperation, extend the cooperation to more fields, improve it in accordance with market-oriented principles, form a pattern of cooperation and interaction, realize mutual benefit and common development, and expand the potential for regional development to create a better future.

4.Advantages

(1)The region's general economic and social development is better than that of the Yangtze River Delta region;

(2)The "Guangdong manufacturing + Hong Kong services" mode appeals to overseas investors;

(3)There is high marketization, internationalization and a competitive system;

(4)City clusters with the most potential economy have been developed;

(5)Foreign investment is extensive;

(6)Industrial structure is optimizing;

(7)The region has the strength to build world-class factories.

5.Cooperation mechanisms

There are two main platforms for PPRD regional cooperation, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum and the Economic & Trade Fair.

The Joint Meeting of Executive Leaders of PPRD Regional Cooperation brings together the executive heads of the People's Government of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao. The joint meeting is organized by each area in accordance with the order announced by the State Council. The secretariat of the joint meeting is established by the governments of all parties during the meeting, and is located in Guangdong province with a secretary-general, who holds the concurrent post of secretary-general of the Guangdong provincial government. The Joint Meeting of government secretary-generals is attended by the secretary-generals of the nine provincial-level areas and the two SARs. The offices in charge of the routine work of the nine provincial-level areas are set up in their development and reform commissions while the governments of the two SARs shall determine the corresponding supervising departments. Specialized personnel shall be appointed to act as liaison officers for PPRD regional cooperation.

The parties should strengthen mutual consultations and link up with the PPRD Secretariat, propose measures for specific cooperation projects and related matters, formulate detailed agreements and plans, and implement the tasks assigned by this agreement.

As crucial platforms for regional cooperation, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum and the Economic & Trade Fair are co-sponsored and organized by turn among all parties. They are held biennially in Guangzhou. Guangdong is a fixed organizer and one or two others are designated as co-organizers. The scale and form of the fair is proposed by the Secretary-General's meeting and submitted to the Joint Meeting of Executive Leaders for approval.

6.Areas of cooperation

According to the Framework Agreement on Regional Cooperation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta, ten areas -- infrastructure, industry and investment, commerce and trade, tourism, agriculture, labor services, science and education, information construction, environmental protection and health and epidemic prevention -- will be the key fields for cooperation.

7.Areas of Provinces in the PPRD Region, 2017

8.Populations of Provinces in the PPRD Region, 2017

9.GDP of Provinces in the PPRD Region, 2017