The per capita gross domestic product of south China's Pearl River Delta Region reached 67,321 yuan (US$9,855.2) in 2009, a statement from Guangdong Province's Statistics Bureau said Wednesday.

The figure, approaching US$10,000, is a sign the region has entered the late stage of industrialization and is one step closer to modernization, experts said.

The region, which includes the major cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan in south China's Guangdong Province, is one of China's most important export bases.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2010)