The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, conducted the last day of her visit to Japan in Tokyo today (November 2). She met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party separately, and attended a forum to promote business opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
At noon, Mrs Lam met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Taro Kono. She thanked him for inviting her to visit Japan and the assistance offered in the arrangement of the visit, resulting in a fruitful trip for her. She pointed out that Hong Kong and Japan have long maintained a close connection in many areas including economic affairs, trade and tourism, and that this visit has helped to further strengthen co-operation between the two sides, particularly in innovation and technology (I&T). She said that during her stay in Japan, she met with representatives of a number of research institutions, universities and the industry to introduce to them the advantages and prospects of Hong Kong's scientific research, and that she realises that both sides are keen to further their co-operation, including on how to develop an international I&T hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She added that she believes that the visit has been a good new start and looks forward to maintaining close contact with various sectors in Japan to implement co-operation in different areas.
After the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement expressing the aspirations of both parties to leverage on Hong Kong's role as an international trade and financial centre as well as its unique advantage of "one country, two systems" to further deepen and broaden practical co-operation. The statement also states both sides' specific views on trade, tourism, I&T and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as sports and culture.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met with the Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Mr Toshihiro Nikai. Noting that many lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party are members of the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarian League and have been supportive of Hong Kong's development all along, she said that progress has indeed been seen in exchanges and co-operation between the two places at the government and business levels as well as the people-to-people level during the party's time in power. She expressed the hope that the Liberal Democratic Party would continue its support to strengthen ties between Hong Kong and Japan.
In the morning, Mrs Lam also attended a forum on financial co-operation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Japanese enterprises organised by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, and delivered a speech. She briefed more than 120 participants at the forum on the background of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its favourable conditions for development, including the country's support, the unique advantage of "one country, two systems", infrastructure connectivity in the area and complementarity among the cities. She said that with sound scientific research capabilities, outstanding technology talents and world-class universities, Hong Kong has allocated substantial resources and implemented a host of measures to complement the development of the Greater Bay Area as an international I&T hub. She said that with Japan's advanced technologies, she hopes that relevant Japanese enterprises will establish a presence in Hong Kong to jointly seize the opportunities brought about by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mrs Lam will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong this afternoon.
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