Jiang Jianjun, mayor of Zhanjiang and a deputy to the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, receives an interview with the Central Radio and Television Station on March 6. [Photo/Zhanjiang Daily]

Zhanjiang will take the initiative in integrating itself into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said Jiang Jianjun, mayor of Zhanjiang and a deputy to the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, in an interview with the Central Radio and Television Station on March 6.

The outline of the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, released recently by the Communist Party of China's Central Committee and the State Council, stressed synergetic development between the Greater Bay Area and the Beibu Gulf rim. Zhanjiang, a key city in the Beibu Gulf, is responsible for facilitating cooperation between the two city clusters, said Jiang.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. [Photo/Xinhua]

He also cited the geographical strengths of Zhanjiang as a pivotal city for marine cooperation along the Belt and Road, and a neighbor to the Hainan Free Trade Zone across the Qiongzhou Straits. The Greater Bayer Area can spread its influence in ASEAN via Zhanjiang.

The two areas can also enhance cooperation in developing a marine economy and all-for-one tourism using their coastal resources. This will be made possible by a transportation network consisting of the current Jiangmen-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway and the purposed Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway.