As neighboring cities, Hong Kong and Shenzhen can develop into a world class metropolis by heightening mutual cooperation and complementing each other's strengths, the heads of the two city governments said yesterday.

In the course of deepening cooperation both governments will tackle problems such as the cross-boundary infrastructure and improving clearance procedures.

At the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Cooperation Forum with the theme "Jointly Developing a World Class Metropolis" held yesterday, Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang said the co-establishment of an international metropolis was an anticipatory, strategic topic.

He said Hong Kong's 10th anniversary as a special administrative region provides a perfect opportunity to review the results of cooperation between the two cities.

Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong and Shenzhen as close partners, should move ahead with the times and speed up integration, Tang said.

"With vision and an open mind and on the basis of the close ties that we have built up in the past, we should further develop a strategic partnership, with a view to building together a world class metropolis.

Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng told the forum ties had grown closer after Hong Kong's reunification with the motherland and he went on to describe the cities as two "shining stars" along China's south coast.

(China Daily August 14, 2007)