The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, at Government House today (September 3) to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong's co-operation with Shaanxi. Also attending the meeting were the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.　　
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Zhao's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation. Mr Lee highlighted that Shaanxi holds an important position in areas such as historical and cultural heritage, tourism resources, higher education, and technological development, while Hong Kong actively develops and consolidates its position of "eight centres" as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. He said he believes that Shaanxi and Hong Kong can strengthen exchanges and co-operation to achieve mutual complementarity and mutual benefits.
Mr Lee noted the people-to-people exchange between Shaanxi and Hong Kong is frequent. The Shaanxi Provincial Government has been providing valuable internship opportunities for Hong Kong youth at cultural and museum institutions in Shaanxi for years, and the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government organised a Yan'an revolutionary history study tour for teachers for the first time this April. He said he believes that more Hong Kong teachers and students will visit Shaanxi for learning and exchange. Noting that Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has been included as one of the Mainland cities eligible for the Individual Visit Scheme since March this year, Mr Lee welcomes more tourists from Xi'an to visit Hong Kong and experience the unique charm of the city, promoting cultural integration and people-to-people bonds between the two places.
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