Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the development of the Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang urban agglomeration, emphasizing the potential for economic growth and collaboration among the three cities while highlighting the challenges of administrative barriers and the complexities of city mergers [4][6][22]. Group 1: Urban Agglomeration Development - The Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang urban agglomeration has been initiated to enhance collaboration in transportation, healthcare, and tourism among the three cities [4]. - The urban agglomeration signifies a re-integration of the three cities, which historically were part of the same administrative region until the 1990s [5][9]. - The urban agglomeration aims to create a "one heart, two poles" spatial structure, with Shantou as the center and Chaozhou and Jieyang as growth poles, linking to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area [28][30]. Group 2: Challenges of City Merger - Despite the push for urban agglomeration, the possibility of merging the three cities is complicated by existing administrative barriers and the current policy environment, which discourages city mergers [15][21]. - Historical attempts to merge cities have faced significant obstacles, and the current administrative structure is unlikely to change without a new policy window [15][21]. - Merging cities of the same administrative level is more complex than merging a provincial capital with a regular city, leading to potential disputes if administrative levels do not change post-merger [19][20]. Group 3: Economic Development Strategies - The article highlights the need for the three cities to break down barriers and form a collaborative development model, focusing on shared infrastructure and services [31]. - The "Hundred Counties, Thousand Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages" initiative aims to enhance economic development in the less developed regions of Guangdong, including the Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang area [41]. - The region's industrial transformation is crucial, with a focus on emerging industries such as renewable energy and green chemicals, which are expected to drive future growth [48][50].