Deal signed to promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday attended a ceremony overseeing the signing of a framework to deepen cooperation between south China's Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) as well as to enhance the development of the Greater Bay Area.

The ceremony came shortly after celebrations were held marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

The Greater Bay Area, incorporating the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR and nine cities in south China's Guangdong Province, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Foshan, Zhaoqing and Jiangmen, boasts a solid foundation and has great potential to be at the forefront of China's opening up and an important engine of its development.

The idea of establishing a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was initiated in China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), and written into the government's work report this year.