Since the year 2003, the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) regional cooperation, a concept raised by Guangdong and supported by Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan, as well as the two Special Administration Regions (SAR), Hong Kong and Macao, arouses universal attention from the relevant regions. Under the instruction of CPC central committee and with the support given by relevant national departments, the '9+2' governments work together to boost their cooperation and the PPRD region as a whole is experiencing a steady progress.

PPRD, an area with 1/5 of China's territory, 1/3 of China's population, and over 1/3 of China's economic output (excluding Hong Kong and Macao), include provinces from East, Mid and West China and Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

PPRD Regional Cooperation and Development Forum, an important platform and essential part in boosting the regional cooperation of PPRD, is rooted in a conference attending by directors of Development Planning Commission of the 9 provinces/regions. The forum is co-hosted by the 9 provinces/regions and Hong Kong, Macao SARs with State Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Hong Kong and Macao Office and Department Research Center of the State Council as the guiding organizations.

The forum, with the background of China entering WTO, Hong Kong and Macao signing CEPA with Mainland and the establishment of Sino-ASEAN free trade zone, aims to gather the '9+2' provinces/regions together to study their experience in regional cooperation, discuss the development strategies, and explore the possibility of further cooperation and the approaches for strengthening of competitiveness of the region.

First session of the forum, is to be held on June 1st to 3rd, 2004 in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou, with a theme 'Cooperation and Development, Create the Future together'. On the closing ceremony, the governmental leaders from the '9+2' provinces/regions will together sign the 'Pan-PRD Cooperation Frame Agreement'.

The forum sessions, held once a year, will be undertaken by the '9+2' provinces/regions in turn.