The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will depart Hong Kong tomorrow (May 15) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting to be held in Chile, and the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Ministerial Gathering in France. He will also visit the United Kingdom (UK) to strengthen bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the UK.
Mr Yau will first attend the APEC MRT Meeting in Viña del Mar, Chile from May 17 to 18 (Viña del Mar time). APEC 2019 is themed "Connecting People, Building the Future". Mr Yau will join discussion sessions with ministers of other member economies on topics including APEC and the WTO, advancing APEC's regional economic integration agenda, and strengthening inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital era. On the sidelines of the MRT Meeting, he will sign an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Hong Kong and Mexico, and meet with other participating ministers for exchanges on bilateral trade and economic relations as well as issues of mutual concern.
After attending the APEC meetings, Mr Yau will visit London, the UK from May 20 to 21 (London time). He will meet with senior government officials and parliamentarians to explore further co-operation on bilateral trade and creative industries development. He will deliver a keynote speech at a seminar on Hong Kong creative industries and design, and will speak on Hong Kong's latest economic and trade situation as well as its role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative at a roundtable discussion at Asia House.
Mr Yau will then attend the MCM of the OECD in Paris, France from May 22 to 23 (Paris time). He will attend a ministerial dinner hosted by the Slovak Republic, the Chair of the 2019 MCM, and join a session on digital trade where participating ministers will discuss the impact of digitalisation on trade. On the margins of the MCM, Mr Yau will attend the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering to discuss issues relating to WTO reform and achievable outcomes for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference next year.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on May 24. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau's absence.
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