Du said construction of a bridge linking Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai in the PRD-the country's three largest southern boomtowns-is expected to start this year. The Central Government will spend 5 billion yuan ($730 million) on its main span, which will stretch 29 km-the longest in the world.

The plan also calls for the strengthening of cooperation between the PRD region and Taiwan in the fields of economy and trade, high and new technologies, advanced manufacturing, modern agriculture, tourism, scientific and technological innovations, education, medicine, social insurance and culture.

Besides cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the plan also encourages the PRD region to work with international economies and emerging markets. It supports the PRD region in setting up dialogues and coordination mechanisms under the framework agreement on the China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area and supports the region's cooperation with developed ASEAN countries such as Singapore in the fields of economy, technology, industrial park management and professional training. It encourages the region to develop its predominant industries in ASEAN countries, expand its exports to ASEAN, carry out tourism cooperation with ASEAN and introduce a tourist visa facilitation system. The plan also calls for the expansion of cooperation with the European Union and the North American Free Trade Agreement area in the fields of economy, trade, technology and professional training. It encourages the vigorous development of cooperation with emerging markets such as India, Russia, Brazil and the Middle East, as well as the strengthening of economic and trade cooperation with Australia, New Zealand and countries in South America and Africa.

Other development goals outlined in the NDRC plan include raising per-capita GDP in the PRD region to 80,000 yuan ($11,696) by 2012 and 135,000 yuan ($19,737) by 2020; urbanizing 80 percent of the PRD region by 2012 and 85 percent by 2020; increasing the region's average life expectancy to 78 years by 2012 and to 80 years by 2020; ensuring the service sector contributes 53 percent of regional GDP by 2012 and 60 percent by 2020; and increasing pension insurance coverage to more than 95 percent of urban employees, 80 percent of migrant workers and 60 percent of rural residents by 2012.