The launching of PPRD forum is a new milestone, which marks the formal start-off of this PPRD regional cooperation and development. "We will discuss and promote the Pan-PRD regional development and cooperation together." Says Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Guangdong Province at his speech this morning.

Nowadays, new technology reform, as represented by the new information technology, has become the impetus for economic development and has become a global trend. However, the global economic development is not on a smooth track. There are variations among countries and regions and their conditions of development are different. Different countries and regions have different interpretation of interests and aspirations. "Therefore, we have serious differences on certain major issues. Therefore, economic globalization is still to be a long, long path for us." Says Mr. Zhang.

"Under such circumstances, we have to start our regional cooperation on the basis of similarities of humanity, as well as inter-related interest. We should take part in this globalization process, upgrade our competitiveness and realize realistic choices for our common development. We should also match the global trend of the economic globalization." Says he.

The rapid development of regional economy in our country has become a great impetus for development of the country's economy, he says. At present, the Yantze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Pan-PRD region have become the three major economic zones in China.

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have already developed a Greater PRD region and have brought about economic benefit for the three regions. The implementation of CEPA this year provides a new opportunity for the cooperation and development within the Greater PRD.

Guangdong is confident to take a lead to realize the modernization of socialism.
However, the development of Guangdong cannot be detached from Hong Kong and Macao. Guangdong has positively accommodated the shifting of industries from Hong Kong and Macao. Therefore, Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong now have the relationship of "Shop in front and Factory behind". At the same time, the development of Hong Kong and Macao cannot be separated from Guangdong.

In 2003, Guangdong Province planned the "9+2" Pan-Pearl River Delta economic region based on discussion according to the policy of regional economic development advanced by central government, which is aimed to further promote the cooperation and development in the PPRD region.

The advantage of the PPRD regional cooperation lies in the distinct differences of their industries as well as the strong complementarities in economy. Therefore, promotion of the regional cooperation in Pan-PRD must be done with mutually beneficial and complementary principle. "We have to insist in the government's promotion and market development; we also have to strengthen the construction of cooperation mechanism; as well as to broaden and deepen the field of cooperation," says Mr. Zhang.

Guangdong, as a member of the PPRD, has the obligation to play an active role in the cooperation and development in the region. It will actively cooperate with other provinces and regions, and will fully support Hong Kong and Macao's work in maintaining their prosperity, says Mr. Zhang at the end of his speech.

Editor: Catherine