Improved transportation to spark regional prosperity

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which is expected to come into service this year, will not only open a window for cities on the western bank of the Pearl River estuary to access the global market but will facilitate the establishment of a world-class airport cluster, promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, experts say.

The Bay Area consists of Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong province - Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

Many of the mainland cities on the river's western bank have limited communication with Hong Kong, Macao and international markets because of an underdeveloped transportation network. Consequently, the development of those cities has lagged behind those on the east bank.