Shenzhen first took root in Luohu, as the special economic zone initiated its reform and opening-up in the district.

As the city’s pioneer representative, Luohu has created many “firsts” in the country — the first to have a securities exchange, the first foreign-funded bank, the first outlet of the McDonald’s, to name but a few.

It is from Luohu that Shenzhen developed into the international metropolis it is today.

Forty years have now passed, and, as the old downtown area of Shenzhen, Luohu is seeking new development from the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the construction of Shenzhen as a pilot demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong port zone economic belt, the Hongling innovative financial industrial belt and the Dawutong emerging industrial belt that have emerged in the district all represent Luohu’s new look.

The fact that it neighbors Hong Kong is one of Luohu’s unique strengthen. Luohu port, Wenjindu port and the soon-to-be-opened Liantang port are helping to make Luohu a hub of the Greater Bay Area.

The district is dedicated to becoming a new platform for Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation by developing a distinctive port economy and pursuing coordinated development, creating a towering bridge built on close cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Luo Yude, secretary of the Luohu District Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is confident the district will advance its cooperation with Hong Kong in finance, technology, education, medical care and other fields related to people’s livelihood.

“The Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology and medical care industrial park we plan to build is an important project taking full advantage of the port economic belt to strengthen Shenzhen’s cooperation with Hong Kong in medical science,” Luo said.

“This will certainly help Luohu residents to access the most advanced medical care resources.”

Luohu also attaches great significance to developing education not only for local children but also those of Hong Kong residents working and living in Shenzhen. To nurture this aspect, Luohu is planning to build a Shenzhen-Hong Kong international education base.

Zhou Xiaojian, chief of the Luohu Development and Reform Bureau, said: “Luohu will secure more land from its urban renovation project near the three ports to build this international education base to better satisfy the needs of those working and living in Shenzhen, and so increase the supply of quality education resources.”

The financial sector, a pillar industry of Luohu, is another important field for cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The district plans to build its Hongling Road into a world-class financial street and a financial service center of the Greater Bay Area, according to the explanation of Pi Jun, head of the financial promotional department of the Luohu financial service commission.

For this purpose, Pi said, Luohu should consolidate its strengths as a place where many financial agencies and companies are gathered, explore new development in financial technology, and advance development of the gold financial industry.

To make Luohu a place suitable as a base for living, working and traveling, the district will make continuous efforts in improving its urban environment, ecological civilization, education, medical care and social services to bring tangible benefits to the people.

Luo Yude added: “The people’s happiness is both the starting point and the final target of our work. Our aim is to enable the people to develop a sense of happiness that is more substantial, more guaranteed and more sustainable.

“To make Luohu an epitome of a happy life is both our objective and our solemn promise. My colleagues and I will make unswerving efforts to realize that vision.”