Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou to integrate by 2020

Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, three cities in Fujian province, put forward an overall plan to integrate into a metropolitan area by 2015. The plan seeks to establish a united market and share resources, infrastructure (such as transportation and telecommunications), public service information platforms, and basic social public services by 2015. By 2020, the cities will achieve fundamental integration of industries, space and society through improved sharing mechanisms. 

 

The metropolitan area will cover an area of 26,000 square kilometers, with a total population of 16.7 million by 2011. 

 

The metropolitan area will be positioned as an important international gateway for China’s opening-up policy, an advanced manufacturing and modern services center on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, and a national pilot area of ocean economy and cross-Straits economic and cultural integration. 

 

It will be divided into several districts based on functions, including a port-vicinity industry-focused district on the south shore of Xiamen Bay and an airport-industry district at the junction of Xiang’an (Xiamen) and Weitou Bay (Quanzhou).