On May 11th, proposals for Greater Bay Area development jointly raised by Secretary of Qingyuan Municipal Party Committee Guo Feng, President of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Guo Jiao and Chairman & CEO of Mingyang Smart Energy Zhang Zhuanwei, were responded to and adopted by relevant national departments, some of which have already been implemented or will soon be launched.

Proposal: Guangzhou metro Line 18 to extend to Qingyuan

Response: The government will strive to include it in the construction plan as a suburban line

Guo and 5 other NPC deputies from Qingyuan appealed that the GBA should play an exemplary role in promoting the development of areas surrounding the Pearl River Delta region.

They pointed out that transportation between these areas and the GBA is presently inadequate, taking a long time for Guangzhou and Qingyuan residents to travel between the two places. The provincial government responded that Qingyuan does not currently meet the requirements for metro construction, but that the government will strive to include it in the provincial railway construction plan as a suburban railway station.

Proposal: To set up a national laboratory for TCM

Response: Focus on the establishment of a national research platform for combining TCM and western medicine in the GBA

Last year, 3 Guangdong NPC deputies including Guo Jiao advocated for the promotion of TCM industries in the GBA, and the establishment of relevant national laboratories.

The National Administration of TCM responded that TCM has been included in the Science and technology innovation plan of the GBA. The Ministry of Science and Technology will focus on the construction of national research platforms with unique features and advantages in the GBA.

The area is also encouraged to carry out innovative and collaborative research on key technologies, further promoting breakthroughs in TCM standards, clinical research and other aspects.

Proposal: To promote equipment industry in the GBA

Response: Strive to construct a high-end energy equipment industry cluster

A marine engineering equipment project. (Photo by Nanfang Daily)

NPC deputy Zhang Chuanwei is focused on the development of the energy industry in the GBA. He suggested that the area should establish a energy planning and coordination group, to manage and standardize energy development, construction and consumption in the area, to achieve a world-class green region.

The National Energy Bureau replied that it would launch the regional energy development plan of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in due time. Based on the ‘West-East electricity transmission project’, the GBA will increase clean and low-carbon electricity supplies, and promote energy substitution in key industries. Energy structure of the GBA will continue to be optimized.

He also proposed establishing a fault tolerance mechanism, to help the area develop strategic new industries such as high-end equipment, marine engineering equipment and offshore wind-power equipment.

The national energy bureau expressed its support for new energy innovation and construction of relevant platforms. It will implement its first policies regarding the energy industry and strive to construct a high-end energy equipment industry cluster in the GBA by promoting large-scale offshore wind power equipment construction, deep-water oil and gas drilling, advanced nuclear power and other sources of energy.