Zhejiang's Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang will work to enhance its role in promoting the high-quality integration of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, said Yuan Jiajun, governor of the province, during a recent interview with the People's Daily.

The outline of a plan to integrate the YRD was recently published. 

According to Yuan, the outline requires the YRD improve global resource allocation and boost innovation in order to become a growth engine not just for China, but the entire world. 

Yuan said high-quality integration of the YRD is the way to achieve that goal, which will provide an example for other regions around the world to emulate.

Zhejiang, as an important part of the region, has much to offer in terms of realizing the region’s high-quality integration, said Yuan, noting that Zhejiang will fully leverage its advantages in digital economy, green development and private economy, and focus on implementing its "Great Bay, Great Garden, Great Channel and Great Urban Area" urban development initiative.

Zhejiang has made it a top priority to develop its digital economy in recent years, with its digital economic aggregate accounting for more than 40 percent of its GDP. The province has also been selected as one of China's first national demonstration zones for the innovative development of digital economy.

Yuan said Zhejiang will cooperate with Shanghai, Jiangsu and Anhui to build the YRD into a national digital hub by improving digital infrastructure, building world-class digital industrial clusters and promoting intelligent applications in key areas.

As for green development, Zhejiang has been working to build itself into a garden province in recent years. Yuan said the province will work with the entire YRD to reduce pollution and build several ecological zones and belts in the future.

Zhejiang boasts a robust private economy which accounts for more than 60 percent of its GDP, 70 percent of its taxes and exports, 80 percent of its employment and 90 percent of its total enterprises. Yuan said Zhejiang will encourage private companies to participate in building major infrastructure in the YRD and strengthen reforms and policies to enhance the business climate.

Zhejiang will also devote itself to the building of a demonstration zone for the green and integrated development of the YRD, promote the integrated development of infrastructure, industry, environmental protection and public services in the YRD, build a series of major R&D platforms to boost innovation, cooperation and opening-up, and conduct several major projects in transportation, port economy, and medical insurance, among other areas.