The State Council has issued a circular that approved and provided further guidance to the development planning blueprint for the Beibu Gulf urban agglomeration.

According to the circular, efforts should be made to boost development of a livable city and the Beibu Gulf urban agglomeration, bringing full play to the region’s portal effect in connecting the Belt and Road, and a unique bolstering function for the coastal regions opening up and east-central-west regions coordinated development.

The circular stressed the plan should implement a new development concept, drive supply-side structural reform, generate new momentum for development, tap potential development to build a new focus of opening-up to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and co-construct and protect the clean gulf and environmentally-friendly industrial system.

It urged the governments of Guangdong province, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Hainan province to further streamline administration and responsibility, strengthen cooperation, work out plans and report major issues, policies and projects involved in the plan to ensure a smooth implementation of the blueprint.

The circular called for related departments of the State Council to formulate specific policies and measures and provide more support in compiling plans, system innovation and administrative division allocation.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development should enhance coordination, guidance, analysis of the plan and conduct timely inspection and evaluation, the circular said.