FS forges closer HK-Vietnam trade partnership (with photos)
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (September 20) in Ho Chi Minh City attended Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) events and met with senior officials of Vietnam to strengthen Hong Kong-Vietnam trade and economic ties.
This morning, he attended the HKTDC's "In Style‧Hong Kong" Symposium before touring the related trade exhibition of brands and designs from over 130 Hong Kong companies.
He said at the Symposium that by working together, Hong Kong and Vietnam will have much to gain long down the road.
Given Hong Kong's excellent business environment, the quality professional services it provides, as well as the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last year, he said Hong Kong is well positioned to help Vietnam enterprises expand their businesses.
Mr Chan then met with the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Mr Nguyen Thanh Phong, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr Lê Hoài Trung, separately.
At the meetings, he highlighted that Hong Kong is actively participating in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's development and the transport network between Hong Kong and other cities in the Area is highly efficient and convenient. He expressed the hope that Hong Kong can strengthen co-operation with Vietnam on all fronts to seize the huge opportunities brought about by this national development initiative. He also provided an update on the latest development of innovation and technology as well as financial services in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the headquarters of a Hong Kong enterprise and its projects in the city.
He also paid a courtesy call on the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Wu Jun, to thank him for supporting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in forging co-operation with ASEAN.
Addressing the HKTDC’s gala dinner this evening, Mr Chan stressed that with its strong professional services from financial services and cross-border logistics to creative design, Hong Kong can help Vietnam enterprises expand their businesses in the markets of the Mainland and the Asian region.
He also underlined Hong Kong's commitment in promoting the development of art, culture and creative industries.
He said that as trade and economic activities between Hong Kong and Vietnam continue to grow, he hoped that the two places, both meeting points of the East and the West, can forge stronger co-operation in different areas, such as art, culture and tourism.
Tomorrow (September 21), Mr Chan will continue his visit to meet representatives of the Vietnamese business sector. He will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon.
