The Chenzhou Area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone will help the city participate in the nation's strategy to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and allow the regions to reinforce each other, said Liu Zhiren, mayor of Chenzhou, Hunan province.

In an interview with China Daily, Liu, who is also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, said that marked progress has been made in construction of the Chenzhou Area since it was launched in September.

While intensifying the institutional innovation, the city has taken concrete steps to improve the business environment in the FTZ, Liu said, adding that 51 new projects have been introduced into Chenzhou Area with a contract amount of 13.44 billion yuan ($2.06 billion). 

Construction of the Hunan Pilot FTZ is a milestone in Hunan's further reform and opening-up. For instance, it has been leading the way in economic and trade cooperation with Africa at the provincial level.

According to the overall plan, the zone will create a world-class advanced manufacturing cluster, a pilot zone for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa and an international investment and trade corridor linking the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Chenzhou, located in the south of the province, is seen as key in linking the Central China province with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Chenzhou, along with Changsha and Yueyang cities, were approved by the central government to build pilot FTZs in September.

The city is primarily involved in developing nonferrous metal processing, modern logistics and other industries. It aims to become an important inland platform to undertake industrial transfer and transformation and upgrading of the processing trade as well as a demonstration zone for cooperation between Hunan, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The country's approval to build the Chenzhou area of Hunan FTZ has provided the city with a new opportunity to integrate its development with the national strategy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and accelerate industrial transfers, Liu said.

"We will focus on institutional innovation, facilitate the free flow of production factors, strengthen the synergy of industries and strive to build a market-oriented, international business environment based on the rule of law," he added.

The mayor said that Chenzhou will take concrete measures this year to further advance the construction of its FTZ area in accordance with its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and lay a solid foundation for the zone's high-quality growth.

While deepening reforms in key areas, efforts will be made to strengthen weak links in infrastructure so as to provide a first-class business environment, he added.