The Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Bridge is an undeniably magnificent structure. The bridge, which entered operation in 2008, connects Ningbo and Jiaxing and has shortened the driving times between Ningbo, Hangzhou and Shanghai to within 2 hours. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

"Ningbo will strive to become a pilot area for the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region by pushing ahead its integration with Shaoxing and Zhoushan, two of its neighboring cities in Zhejiang province," said Zheng Shanjie, Party chief of Ningbo, the economic hub of the southern YRD.

Zheng made the remarks in an interview with local media after attending a conference on YRD integration held by Zhejiang authorities on June 21. 

According to Zheng, Ningbo will focus on four areas to get better involved in YRD integration.

Firstly, Ningbo will promote transport interconnectivity by building railways and highways connecting it with its neighboring cities such as Shanghai, Jiaxing, Taizhou, Wenzhou, Hangzhou and Jinhua.

Secondly, the city will strengthen its manufacturing industries -- including the automobile sector and the high-end equipment and electronics industries -- to build itself into a manufacturing hub in the YRD region and for the nation as a whole.

Ningbo is famous for its prosperous manufacturing sector, with the output of the sector topping 2 trillion yuan ($290.85 billion) last year.

Thirdly, the city will further open its doors to the outside by promoting Belt and Road cooperation, China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation and strengthening customs reforms at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

Ningbo is one of the cities in the YRD region that boasts the highest-level of opening-up. Officials said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port remained top performing port in the world in terms of cargo throughput and leaped to third place in container throughput last year. The city also held the first China-CEEC Expo in June. 

Fourthly, Ningbo will improve its urban services in education, healthcare, insurance and environmental protection, and facilitate its services sharing in the YRD region.