Scholars and economists in Macao held the view that an extensive cooperation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region would lead to a common prosperity in the south China region and increase the nation's global competitiveness.

A number of renowned scholars and economists expressed their views on the cooperation in the region ahead of the opening of a high-profile forum to be held from Jun 1 to Jun 3.

Yang Yunzhong, one of 12 Macao's deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) said that the PPRD cooperation will take advantage of a radiating effect of the economies in Hong Kong and Macao, which would lead to a common prosperity in the south China region.

As the first PPRD Regional Cooperation and Development Forum is to be opened in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou from Tuesday (Jun 1) to Thursday, senior officials from nine provinces, Hong Kong and Macao in the PPRD region will gather at the forum to discuss regional cooperation and join hands to promote development in the region.

"If a common understanding on the regional cooperation could be reached by the authorities at the forum, it would be conducive in removing administrative hedges and driving forward intensive talks and researches on the cooperation in the PPRD," said Yang.

He considered that the PPRD cooperation complies with the overall trend of China's regional economic integration, which would sharpen China's edge in global competitions amid the economic globalization.

As director of the Macao Development Strategy Research Center, Yang said that a stable environment of surrounding regions and regional cooperation are the key to Macao's sustainable development.

"Macao is among the smallest economies in the world. It is vulnerable to fluctuations of its neighboring regions. However, by engaging in the regional cooperation, it can broaden the scope for market and resources," said Yang.

Wong Hon Keong, director of the Macao Academy of Social Sciences said that it is often easy to say than do on the setup of a regional cooperation mechanism.

The PPRD includes China's most dynamic economic powerhouse of Guangdong and two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, which is of separated customs jurisdictions under the World Trade Organization. If a regional cooperation framework is succeeded, it will become the largest regional combination in China.

"Such a regional combination needs a permanent coordination mechanism, a clear common objective and a thorough research on their source circulation rules and the foundation of the cooperation in the region," Wong stressed.

Chui Sai Peng, a Macao NPC deputy held that the PPRD cooperation has a more far-reaching sight than the previous concept on the Pearl River Delta cooperation, which only involves the eastern party of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

"It is good to see officials in the PPRD region willing to seek a common understanding on a coordinated regional development, although each party has its own opinion on the proceeding and mode of the cooperation mechanism," said Chui.

However, an administrative encourage of the cooperation would create a favorable environment for the upcoming involvement of the business circle, which often act soon to define opportunities for cooperation under the policy orientation.

The PPRD region, also known as "9+2", involves Fujian, Jiangxi,Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan as well as Hong Kong and Macao. It is seen as China's new attempt in regional cooperation and development practice and also a breakthrough for coordinated development between the fast-developed eastern regions, the central area and the resource-rich west.

Editor: Donald