SCED visits Xinjiang (with photos)

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, attended the 2023 (China) Eurasia Commodity and Trade Expo in Urumqi, Xinjiang, today (August 17) to promote economic and trade ties and exchanges between Hong Kong and Xinjiang, with a view to exploring collaboration opportunities.
      
     Speaking at a symposium on industrial and commercial development of the Silk Road at the Expo, Mr Yau said that Hong Kong is Xinjiang's largest source of external investment and important economic and trading partner. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI). As a key link and prime platform for the B&RI, Hong Kong will continue to proactively contribute to the country's development in the Belt and Road.
      
     Mr Yau stressed that by capitalising on its unique strengths, Hong Kong connects global investors with promising projects along the Belt and Road, while at the same time fosters collaboration and innovation between Hong Kong and the Mainland. It is now the best time for Hong Kong to give full play to its dual roles in "going global and attracting foreign investment".
      
     Mr Yau pointed out that Xinjiang is located at the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt with distinct geographical advantages. Hong Kong can further collaborate with Xinjiang in various areas, such as the production and marketing of quality Xinjiang products, manufacturing and cultural tourism, to assist Xinjiang in continuously expanding its sales channels for speciality goods by making good use of Hong Kong's resources and platforms. He said that he looked forward to the deepening of collaboration between the two places in achieving mutual developments and benefits.
      
     On the sidelines of the Expo, Mr Yau met with the Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mr Mo Weigang, and the Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Mr Li Yifei, respectively to exchange views on enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Xinjiang enterprises to achieve complementarity.
      
     Upon his arrival in Urumqi last night (August 16), Mr Yau called on Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Ms Sun Hongmei to keep her abreast of Hong Kong's latest developments and the new initiatives on attracting enterprises and investments. 
      
     Mr Yau also visited the Urumqi International Land Port Area to learn about the operation of the Urumqi China-Europe Railway Express Hub, which is the nearest international marshalling hub between the China Section of the western corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express and Central Asia as well as Europe. Its intelligent station system, the first of its kind in the world, is a comprehensive backbone operation platform for international land transportation.
      
     Mr Yau tomorrow (August 18) will attend an investment promotion seminar jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong, the Department of Commerce of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Bureau of Commerce of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing to promote Hong Kong's business opportunities.