BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday unveiled a 2008-2020 development plan for the southern Pearl River Delta, which has been at the forefront of the country's reform and opening-up drive, initiated in 1978.

    The following are the ambitious goals the national government has set for the area over the next 12 years, under the plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission.

    POSITIONING OF THE REGION

    -- A pilot area for exploration of so-called "scientific development." The region will get more autonomy in economic restructuring, coordinating balanced urban and rural development and building a harmonious society.

    -- An avant-garde area for deepening reforms. The area will continue to serve as "an experimental field" of the country's 30-year-old reforms. Key breakthroughs in economic, political, cultural and social reforms are expected during the region's "bold" tryouts.

    -- A crucial frontier of wider opening up to the world. The Pearl River Delta will be joined by the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in "a globally competitive" and "most vigorous" area in the Asia-Pacific region.

    -- A center of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries. The delta will follow a high-end development strategy in building the manufacturing center, which will lead to a number of globally competitive manufacturers and brands. The region will also develop a modern service architecture that accommodates the needs of Hong Kong, an international financial center. It will also become a center for international shipping, logistics, trade, conferences and exhibitions and tourism.

    -- A leading national economic power. The delta region is intended to maintain its lead in terms of economic power within China. It will also expand into a Pan-Pearl-River-Delta area that will have a greater influence on the regional development of south China and become a more powerful "engine" of the national economy.