Beijing has called on Hong Kong delegates attending annual parliamentary meetings to take a more active role in offering constructive advice to speed up the development of the Greater Bay Area, the country’s southern economic powerhouse.

Wang Yang, the outgoing chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also highlighted the need for the delegates to safeguard national security and development interests by countering the West’s portrayal of Hong Kong and the rest of the country, as he delivered his work report at the opening session of the political advisory body on Saturday.

“Pragmatic suggestions should be made … to press ahead with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area,” Wang said.