Guangdong-HK-Macao bay area aims to be world's largest

Plans to turn the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay

area into the world's largest bay area in terms of GDP by 2030 have been

filed with the national economic planner, according to an official on

Tuesday.

The plan for the development of a city

cluster covering the majority of south China was forwarded to the

National Development and Reform Commission at the end of June, said Wu

Weibao, deputy head of Guangdong's development and reform commission.

"Compiled

by the provincial development and reform commission and national think

tanks, including the China Center for International Economic Exchanges

(CCIEE), the plan sets the targets, development directions and major

tasks for the area," Wu said.

The greater bay area

will cover the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, and

nine cities in Guangdong Province, including the first-tier cities of

Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

By 2030, the area is expected

to have the highest GDP among all bay areas worldwide, and become an

advanced manufacturing center, as well as an important global hub of

innovation, finance, shipping and trade, he added.

The

plan includes major infrastructure projects, important development

platforms, and deep economic and trade cooperation that will have

impacts beyond the area, he added.

A framework

agreement on the development of the greater bay area was signed by

central and local officials on July 1, during the 20th anniversary of

Hong Kong's return to China.