Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Xiangzhou District Chief Liu Qiying recently drew a bigger picture for the Zhuhai district in an exclusive interview with Zhuhai Daily, setting the goal of building a core urban area within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Further implementation of the Opening and Reform policy in its 40th year has brought huge opportunities for Xiangzhou's development but also created some challenges for government. Guangdong's delegation held discussions during last month's 2018 Two Sessions (shorthand for the 13th National People's Congress & the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) and reached some solutions based on national leaders' opinions. This input has provided direct guidance for Xiangzhou's growth.

Liu stated that Xiangzhou should develop on a larger scale. When Zhuhai was designated a Special Economic Zone by the State Council in 1980 it became an opening-up forerunner, and ever since has been experiencing robust economic growth. Hence Xiangzhou, an urban area of Zhuhai, has the strength and potential to maintain and even expand in the new competitive age.

One of the goals is to achieve more than 200 billion yuan ($32 billion) in aggregate economic activity by the end of 2023, which would place it at the forefront of districts in Guangdong.

Construction of the Greater Bay Area has been promoted to a national strategy, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) is set to open soon. These developments are likely to lead to economic takeoff in Xiangzhou if the district can make full use of the improved external transport links and maintain positive economic interactions, said Liu.

Liu also called for sound government management which should be based on the public's needs. He promised more money will be spent to better people's wellbeing. Xiangzhou should grow into the best district of its kind, characterized by strong economic competitiveness, development vitality, beautiful landscapes and greater feelings of happiness among its residents.