Moves to create a "metropolis rim" in southern China are under way.

The Municipal People's Congress of Shenzhen passed its 11th Five-Year Guidelines (2006-10) yesterday, which attaches strategic importance to the establishment of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong metropolis rim for the first time.

It will be formed in light of the framework of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the Pan-Pearl River Cooperation Mechanism and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Agreement.

It aims to promote the joint development of the two metropolises in the Pearl River Delta area, and encourage more cooperation between the areas.

According to the plan, the city will build seven more checkpoints along the border to serve the development of Hong Kong in the next five years. They will be located at Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Liantang, Dachan Bay, Shayuchong Port, Nan'ao Port and Longhua Railway Station.

Currently, Luohu and Huanggang are the two main checkpoints among a current total of five. Statistics from Shenzhen Ports Administration Office indicate that Shenzhen handled 159 million entries and exits last year, with a daily average of 437,000. The figure represented an increase of 6.1 per cent over 2004 and accounted for 53 per cent of the nation's total.

At Luohu Checkpoint, an average of 248,626 entries and exits were made every day last year. Huanggang Checkpoint handled a daily average of 130,375.

In the next five years, Shenzhen will continue to improve its checkpoint infrastructure and management co-ordination to match the long-term strategy of Hong Kong, the plan states. It will actively carry out measures for passengers on both sides to make convenient entries and exits at the checkpoints. It will also simplify the customs formalities for vehicles to pass the checkpoints.

The city will push forward the customs system reform at ports as well.

The programme also outlines how Shenzhen will actively strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong in the fields of infrastructure construction, environmental protection, culture, education and science.

At the same time of serving Hong Kong's needs, Shenzhen is also planning to build itself into an important regional international city within 15 years. It will invest 38.5 billion yuan (US$4.79 billion) to extend its subway lines during the period. By 2009, Metro Line 1 will be extended directly to the airport.

The city will build a new railway station, according to the programme, with detailed plans having already been drawn up. Construction is expected to be completed by 2010.

(China Daily March 27, 2006)