CS concludes visit to Harbin (with photos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, continues his visit to Harbin today (September 1).
 
     In the morning, Mr Chan attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 China Industrial Transfer and Development Matchmaking Activities (Heilongjiang) organised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province. Mr Chan delivered a speech introducing Hong Kong's role in assisting the optimisation and upgrading of the industries of Heilongjiang, fostering new quality productive forces, and servicing the country's overall high-quality development. He also encouraged local enterprises to make use of the dual role of Hong Kong as a "super connector"and "super value-adder" to promote connections and co-operation with Hong Kong in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, value-added services, professional support services and biomedicine, and to use Hong Kong as a springboard and a stronghold for expanding into the international market.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Heilongjiang Province Mr Guo Yuehua to exchange views on co-operation initiatives in areas such as innovation technology, industry, and trade. They expressed hope to further strengthen exchanges and co-operation in innovation technology between the two places, jointly making contributions to the country's scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. He then visited the Shenzhen (Harbin) Industrial Park to learn about the latest local developments in digital economy, high-end equipment manufacturing, bioeconomy and new materials industry.
 
     Mr Chan then met with the Mayor of the Harbin Municipal People's Government, Mr Wang Hesheng, to discuss further promoting economic and trade co-operation and cultural exchanges between the two places. He stated that the Central Government further enhanced the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in May this year, adding Harbin as one of the Mainland cities eligible for the IVS. Direct flights between Harbin and Hong Kong have also commenced operation. These favourable policies and measures will deepen economic, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between Harbin and Hong Kong, making the co-operative relationships between the two places even closer.
 
     Mr Chan will depart for Hong Kong tomorrow morning (September 2).