The launching ceremony for the interconnected metro service among major cities of the YRD region was held in Wuhu, Anhui province on May 22. Passengers in seven cities in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shanghai can now use the city's dedicated metro app to board trains in neighboring cities by swiping a QR code.[Photo/zjol.com.cn]

East China's Zhejiang province has been expanding cooperation with neighboring Anhui, Jiangsu provinces, and Shanghai in an effort to further integrate the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region.

The YRD, which centers around Shanghai, is an important international gateway and a major engine of China's economy.

Last November, the central government announced a national strategy to deepen integration of the YRD region, which opened up a new round of development opportunities for Zhejiang.

Creating a community of innovation

Zhangjiang Yangtze River Delta Hi-tech City, a joint venture between Shanghai and the Zhejiang government, is China's first hi-tech park to be developed across multiple cities (provinces). It is located at the border between Fengjing town in the southwest of Shanghai and Pinghu city in the northeast of Zhejiang.

"To date, over 10 robot-related projects have been introduced to the park," said an official from the hi-tech park, who noted that Pinghu not only has great potential in industrial development but is also competitive in transportation and business environment.

Another example is the China-Singapore Jiashan Modern Industrial Park, which sits at the intersection of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai. Jointly developed by Jiashan county, Jiaxing and Suzhou, the park focuses on intelligent sensing and aims to develop into a demonstration zone in support of YRD integration.