Optimize and improve urban structure and size

According to the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration Development Plan (2017-20), which was approved by the State Council Jan 20, 2017, the city cluster will put emphasis on making the key cities, including Nanning, Haikou and Zhanjiang, bigger and stronger. The node cities, such as Beihai, Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, Yulin, Chongzuo, Maoming, Yangjiang and Danzhou, will be made better and stronger, while middle-sized and small cities, and characteristic towns will be improved.

The region will further increase the overall carrying capacity of key node cities, promote the growth of industrial and population agglomeration, and improve the integrated functions of the node cities. The supportive roles that Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, and Danzhou have played in the construction of a blue and livable bay will be enhanced, and the driving effect of Yulin in the development of the border area between Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, as well as Chongzuo in the opening-up of border towns will be increased.

Centering on the development of some key counties like Hengxian, Binyang, Lingshan, Hepu and Rongxian, the region will cultivate a number of middle-sized and small cities with sound economic foundations, large populations, and strong resources and environment carrying capacity. The construction of small towns will be integrated with development of characteristic resources. Specialty industries based on local conditions will be developed, and living environments will be improved, in order to build a batch of attractive small towns with distinctive features.

Moreover, the region plans to provide more support for Dongxing and Pingxiang to perfect comprehensive functions including transport, finance, trade and cross-border tourism, with the aim to accelerate the development of the cities' port economies and characteristic cultural tourism. The infrastructure level in border towns such as Friendship Pass, Aidian, Shuikou and Shuolong will be improved, and the region will set up border port towns for opening-up and cooperation between China and Vietnam. At the same time, the functions of port towns will be further enhanced, and also the levels of trade and investment facilitation. The city cluster will promote investment and trade facilitation, and realize the free flow of people and goods, according to the development plan.

Note: This is a courtesy interpretation of part of the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration Development Planning. In case of discrepancies, the Chinese text prevails.