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The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (SCIT), Mr Joseph WP Wong, visited Guangdong today (April 18) and discussed with officials from the Guangdong Provincial Government and Guangzhou Municipal Government ways to further enhance the economic and trade co-operation between the two places.
This is Mr Wong's first official visit to Guangdong since he took up his post as SCIT.
Mr Wong first met with the Guangdong Executive Vice Governor, Mr Tang Bingquan. During the meeting, they exchanged views on different areas of cooperation, including further promoting regional co-operation in the Pearl River Delta; further enhancing co-operation in the service industry between Hong Kong and Guangdong; strengthening technology and informatisation co-operation; continued co-operation in encouraging Guangdong enterprises to develop their businesses in Hong Kong; and increasing exchange and co-operation in intellectual property protection.
Mr Wong said that he was pleased to know that good progress had been made in fostering technology co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong. Since the establishment of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Innovation and Technology in August 2003 under the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference, the two governments have been actively strengthening co-operation in innovation and technology between the two places; promoting technology transfer and commercialisation of research and development results, and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of industries in the Greater Pearl River Delta region.
"One of the major co-operation initiatives launched by the Expert Group is the Hong Kong/Guangdong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme, which aims to encourage research institutions and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong to carry out joint research and development projects in the technology areas of mutual interest.
"Since 2004, the governments of Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong Province have supported 193 projects with total funding of about $660 million. The funding scheme will continue in 2006 and details of the scheme are being discussed by the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Department of Science and Technology of the Guangdong Provincial Government.
During today's visit, Mr Wong also met with Guangzhou Vice Mayor, Chen Mingde, and exchanged views with him on enhancing the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).
He also toured the 99th Chinese Export Commodities Fair in Guangzhou International Conference and Exhibition Centre, and visited two Hong Kong enterprises in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District.
Ends/Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:48
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