The three experimental development zones in Guangdong have agreed to set up joint conferences to solve problems ranging from vicious competition among them to overlapping of industrial strategies, but some analysts are sceptical about the drive.

Nansha in Guangzhou, Qianhai in Shenzhen and Hengqin in Zhuhai , which have been written into China’s 12th five-year plan for 2011 to 2015 as testing grounds for new free-trade-zone plans, signed the agreement in Nansha on Monday.

They plan on strengthening communication on industrial strategies, planning, economic policies and social management, The Southern Metropolis News reported yesterday.

Officials from the three zones will also meet three times a year in joint conferences to discuss important issues, the newspaper said.

Professor Zuo Liancun , who teaches at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and specialises in Guangdong’s economic co-operation with Hong Kong and Macau, said the agreement won’t solve core problems including vague…