The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this morning (March 25) attended the China Development Forum 2019 organised by the Development Research Centre of the State Council at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and delivered a speech at the session on "The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: A Rising Star in the Global Economy".
Elaborating on the characteristics of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development from a global economy perspective in her speech, Mrs Lam quoted the three "unprecedented circumstances" surrounding the Greater Bay Area development as described by the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, in his remarks at the second plenary meeting of the Greater Bay Area Leading Group. He said that the high-level support and commitment to the Greater Bay Area by the Central Government is unprecedented; the response of the three governments and various sectors in the three places is highly enthusiastic; and the Greater Bay Area will take on an unprecedented historic role in the country's further reform and opening up. She emphasised that Hong Kong will faithfully uphold the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and leverage on the city's clear and compelling strengths. Citing Hong Kong's strengths in finance and innovation and technology as examples, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong can play an active role in the Greater Bay Area development.
The Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on, also spoke in the session. Together with Mrs Lam, they answered questions from the participating guests. The session on the Greater Bay Area was one of the eight sessions in this year's forum, demonstrating the Greater Bay Area's key status in the national development.
Mrs Lam yesterday (March 24) attended the forum's opening ceremony and listened to the keynote speech delivered by Mr Han. She also attended various sessions with different guest speakers and the forum's 20th Anniversary Welcome Banquet. Vice President Wang Qishan attended the dinner to welcome guests from different places.
The China Development Forum has been hosted annually since 2000 with the aim of "Engaging with the World for Common Prosperity". The forum serves as a pivotal platform for dialogues between leaders of the Central Government, the global business community and international organisations as well as academia at home and abroad. The theme of this year's forum is "Greater Opening-up for Win-Win Cooperation" and the event is being held for three consecutive days (from March 23 to 25) in Beijing.
Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.
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