The State Council's Information Office (SCIO) held a press conference on Friday to introduce the central focus of the general plan for the integrated regional development of the Yangtze River Delta, released last week by the the State Council.

Luo Wen, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, and deputy mayor of Shanghai Chen Yin addressed key points of the plan. 

"Shanghai as the core city in the region is to lead the integration," Chen said. 

Shanghai is positioned to be a hub for the economy, finance, trade, shipping, and technological innovation, empowering the development of other regions and leading the integration of the Yangtze Delta.

As one of China's most economically active, open, and innovative regions, the Yangtze River Delta boasts strategic significance in the country's modernization and further opening-up, which makes its regional integration crucial for leading the country's high-quality development and building a modern economic system.

To implement the policies, Shanghai will amplify and deepen the role of its Pilot Free Trade Zone in the opening-up and institutional innovation.

Lingang Special Area of Shanghai FTZ, launched in August, is set to be a leading light for further opening-up, said Chen.

The new area focuses on freedom of investment, trade, capital flow, transportation, and employment, and building itself as a special economic functional area that is in line with international standards and more influential and competitive in the international market.

Read more: Lingang New Area aims to be world-class trade zone

According to Luo, one of the emphases in the outline plan puts on the synergistic effect between regional integration and high-quality development. 

The outline plan set the Yangtze River Delta region to take the lead in achieving high-quality development through in-depth regional integration, he said.