CE leads delegation to attend 2023 PPRD Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference (with photos/videos)
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to attend the 2023 Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, this morning (July 7).
The theme of this year's joint conference is "Embark on New Journey and Pursue New Prospects through Cooperation". Mr Lee said, "President Xi Jinping emphasised in the report of the 20th National Congress that we must fully, faithfully and resolutely uphold the principles of 'one country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong', 'Macao people administering Macao', and a high degree of autonomy; remain committed to governing Hong Kong and Macao in accordance with the law; and support Hong Kong in developing the economy, improving people's livelihood, better integrating into national development, and making greater contribution to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The PPRD regional co-operation provides the most ideal opportunities and platform for facilitating Hong Kong's active integration into national development."
On finance, Mr Lee pointed out that the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited launched the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)-Renminbi (RMB) Dual Counter Model last month to allow investors to trade securities of the same issuer in both HKD and RMB, which improved market flexibility and convenience while attracting more RMB funds. He encouraged PPRD enterprises to continue to make good use of Hong Kong as the preferred fund-raising platform for financing and overseas business development.
On maritime, aviation and logistics, Mr Lee mentioned that Hong Kong would play a more important role in building an efficient and smooth logistics network in the region. At the same time, Hong Kong will actively promote the co-operation of Hong Kong International Airport with other cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in the aviation industry to enhance the development of the industry in the GBA. In addition, Hong Kong will achieve complementarity with the railway-sea transport network of the PPRD region to jointly promote the New Land-Sea Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide comprehensive support for local enterprises along the New Land-Sea Corridor through high-end shipping and high value-added supporting services.
On innovation and technology, Mr Lee said that since the resumption of normal travel with the Mainland, the HKSAR Government has signed three co-operation agreements with PPRD provinces and municipalities to deepen exchanges and interaction, and promote higher-level innovation and technology co-operation. At the same time, with a large number of data centre projects under construction, complete and reliable network facilities, and a full range of major cloud service providers in Hong Kong, it is believed that Hong Kong could contribute to the development of the big data and digital economy in the GBA.
The joint conference has endorsed seven key tasks for the year: first, to strengthen the leading role of major strategies and accelerate the creation of a new mode of regional co-ordinated development; second, to promote the development of major co-operation platforms and continue to leverage regional comparative advantages; third, to enhance infrastructure interconnectivity and improve the comprehensive modern transportation systems; fourth, to construct a modern industrial system and strengthen the in-depth co-operation of the industrial and supply chains; fifth, to enhance the development of market integration; sixth, to jointly promote the development of regional ecological civilisation; and seventh, to take forward the co-operation in government and community services.
The PPRD covers nine provinces/regions (namely Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan) and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs (9+2), accounting for one-third of the country's population and gross domestic product. Approved by the State Council, the PPRD Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference is an important regional co-operation and exchange platform which was put forward and established jointly by "9+2" PPRD provinces/regions in 2004.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee met with the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Weizhong. Mr Lee said that the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, which is personally chaired by him, has achieved fruitful results in different aspects, including striving to pursue more policy measures on facilitating the efficient and convenient flow of people, goods, capital and information in the GBA. For example, through the close co-operation between the HKSAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme was officially implemented this month to promote connectivity in the GBA. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Guangdong Provincial Government for its continuous support of Hong Kong's work, saying that Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to strengthen high-level co-operation on various fronts under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits.
Mr Lee then met with the Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Lan Tianli. Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government had established the Guangxi Liaison Unit as early as 2017 to enhance and deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangxi in such areas as trade, culture, and tourism, as well as providing support for Hong Kong enterprises and people in Guangxi. He thanked the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government for its support to the work of the liaison unit over the years, noting that the HKSAR Government will continue to promote exchanges and co-operation between the two places through the liaison unit.
The delegation led by Mr Lee concluded their visit to Guizhou today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
