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Hong Kong and Yunnan today (June 4) agreed to strengthen cooperation in logistics and tourism.
Hong Kong and Yunnan signed a total of 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on logistics and tourism which will provide impetus to mutual cooperation in the areas of logistics and tourism. The signing ceremony was held today in Kunming.
The signing was witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, and the Governor of Yunnan, Mr Xu Rongkai. Mr Tsang is leading a delegation of government officials and local business leaders in Kunming to attend the "Third Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum cum Trade Fair".
Mr Tsang said after attending the ceremony that the MOU would lay a stronger foundation for cooperation between Hong Kong and Yunnan in the logistics and tourism industries which were two of Hong Kong's main economic pillars, and promote the development of these two industries in the two places.
Also present at the signing ceremony were the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, and the Commissioner for Tourism, Miss Au King-chi.
A total of seven MOU on logistics were signed between the various Hong Kong logistics key players and their counterparts in Yunnan. The MOU mainly focus on the cooperation and future development of manpower training, information exchange, and application of e-logistics.
Hong Kong logistics sectors signing the MOU include the Hong Kong Shippers' Council, Hong Kong Productivity Council, Chamber of Hong Kong Logistics Industry, Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Ltd., Federation of Hong Kong Industries (Transport and Logistics Services Council), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong, and Digital Trade and Transportation Network Limited.
Another six MOU on tourism were signed between the Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration and various tourism organisations (including the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Hotels Association) and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong (the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University).
Areas of cooperation include development and joint promotion of multi-destination itineraries and tourism information exchange, trade liaison, enhancing the quality of tourism service and travel experience, and manpower training.
The Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (Dragonair) also signed a Letter of Intent with the Lijiang Municipal Government stating that the two parties would join hands to seek regulatory approval and make necessary preparation to launch direct services by Dragonair between Hong Kong and Lijiang.
Ends/Sunday, June 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:22
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