NANNING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The 5th Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) Regional Economic and Trade Fair opened Tuesday in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

    The fair is jointly sponsored by nine provinces and regions in the Pan-PRD region, including Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

    Over the years, close economic ties had been built within the region, giving rise to remarkable regional development, said Guo Shengkun, Secretary of Guangxi CPC Committee, at the opening.

    The prospect for further cooperation is promising, he added.

    The Pan-PRD region covers 20 percent of China's territory and is home to one third of the country's population. It contributes to more than 30 percent to the nation's gross domestic product.

    The first Pan-PRD Regional Economic and Trade Fair was held in Guangdong in 2004. Deals worth more than 1.6 trillion yuan in total (235.3 billion U.S. dollars) had been signed during the previous four fairs.