SHANGHAI: The Yangtze River Delta, a major powerhouse of China's economy, could be expanded from 16 major cities to include the entire region to bring about smooth integration among Shanghai and the neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Experts attending an international seminar over the weekend, which saw top leaders from Shanghai and the two provinces attending, announced that the long-anticipated regional-development outline would soon be released, Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po reported.

While ensuring Shanghai's status as the zone's core, a three-layer, sustained coordinative mechanism is in the pipeline to promote integration of the delta and enhance its global competitiveness.

It is the first time for the delta's integration to top the strategic agenda of the financial hub and its two neighbors.

Citing the seminar's participants, the Hong Kong newspaper said the regional development outline and another guideline - partly drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission to further reform, opening up and coordinated development in the region - would be unveiled soon.