The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to France in Paris today (June 19, Paris time), where she met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, and visited innovation and technology (I&T) as well as cultural institutions.
Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian in the morning. She noted that this is her first visit to France as the Chief Executive and the visit covers three cities, reflecting the importance she attaches to the close and multi-faceted relationship between Hong Kong and France. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong and France will have more collaboration in the future, including in the promotion of free trade and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Noting that Hong Kong will play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative, she looked forward to collaborating with France at both the government and enterprise levels with a view to grasping future opportunities.
Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then joined a breakfast meeting hosted by Institut Montaigne, a think tank in France, which was attended by French business leaders, academics, etc. She briefed the attendees on Hong Kong's latest development, including the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems", the highly regarded rule of law and judicial independence, and the adequate protection of people's freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. She also exchanged views with attendees on such areas as the promotion of free trade, the Linked Exchange Rate System, the healthcare system and development of innovation and technology.
Accompanied by Mr Yau and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, Mrs Lam then visited Ecole Polytechnique to learn about its development and its research projects on biomedical technology. Ecole Polytechnique is a top institution of higher education in France with over 220 years of history and has many talents in innovation and technology as well as successful entrepreneurs as its alumni. She was pleased to note that Ecole Polytechnique has started cooperation with universities in Hong Kong and expressed the hope that the exchange will promote the internationalisation of Hong Kong's higher education. She also pointed out that biomedical technology is one of the priority areas of Hong Kong as its application would help provide better care to patients.
During the visit, Mrs Lam and other officials also attended a gathering with a group of students of different nationalities. She encouraged them to visit Hong Kong and consider joining the Working Holiday Scheme which has been popular among young people from Hong Kong and France. She was pleased to learn that Ecole Polytechnique has started to offer courses in English and looked forward to having Hong Kong students pursuing their studies in it.
Mrs Lam and other officials then attended a lunch hosted by the Chargé d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in France, Mr Wu Xiaojun, to learn about the bilateral relationship between the nation and France. She also thanked the embassy for its support in various exchanges between Hong Kong and France.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam and other officials visited the Louvre Museum. She met with the President-Director of the Museum, Mr Jean-Luc Martinez, and toured part of the collection. She thanked the Louvre Museum for co-organising with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum a large-scale exhibition in Hong Kong last year, providing the opportunity for members of the public in Hong Kong to see the rich collection of the Louvre Museum.
Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Paris tomorrow (June 20, Paris time).
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