A brighter future within reach for Yangtze River Delta

The economic integration of the Yangtze River Delta is expected to soar to new heights next year when millions of expo visitors flock to Shanghai, pushing the region to work in unison to mirror the successes achieved by New York City and Tokyo's neighboring metropolises, according to industry experts.

With an estimated 37 percent of the projected 70 million tourists estimated to travel to Shanghai's nearby areas, cities surrounding the economic powerhouse will be brought even closer together, said members who participated recently in a third series of forums regarding the cooperation and development of the Shanghai World Expo and Yangtze River Delta.

"Shanghai Expo is a golden opportunity for the tourism industry in the Yangtze River Delta region, which will escalate the level of integration in the tourism sector," said Liu Zhijiang, secretary general of the China Tourism Association.