Li Jinbin, secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee, called for more efforts to promote environmental protection, construct innovation platforms, and develop world-class industrial clusters in the region.

Coordinated efforts should be made to build a high-quality public emergency health management system and improve people's sense of well-being and security, he said.

The YRD is home to 15 percent of China's population and contributes roughly a quarter of its GDP. It also accounted for more than a third of the country's foreign trade and investment last year, with a value of 11.24 trillion yuan ($1.58 trillion).

Huzhou, located in the center of the YRD, is the second city to hold the forum, following Wuhu, Anhui province.

The Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway, which began construction during the forum, is expected to turn Huzhou into a regional transport hub, as it will be the only city within one hour of Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Hefei by high-speed rail.

Li Jinbin, secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee, addresses the 2020 Forum of Major Leaders of the Yangtze River Delta held in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 6. [Photo/WeChat account: Huzhoufabu]