The Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Chang King-yiu, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Guangxi Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government cum HKSAR 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner today (May 10) in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The event signified the commencement of the full operation of the Guangxi Liaison Unit and marked the beginning of a series of events in Nanning in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.
 
     Ms Chang also paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr Peng Qinghua, and exchanged views on stepping up exchanges and co-operation between the two places.
 
     Speaking at the gala dinner, Ms Chang said that Guangxi and Hong Kong, both being members of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum, maintained close economic and trade relations. Over the years, Hong Kong is not only the largest external source of direct investment in Guangxi but also the best platform for Guangxi enterprises to "go global". Guangxi enterprises could make use of Hong Kong’s strength as the "super-connector" to expand the international market, thereby benefiting both places.
 
     Ms Chang added that Guangxi has the unique geographical strength of being the only province/region in the western China that is situated along both the coast and border. It is also the bridgehead for promoting co-operation with the ASEAN community and an important gateway to the Belt and Road region. The Autonomous Region also intends to make full use of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong and Macao in areas including investment and finance, processing trade and professional services. Ms Chang said that there would be much room for co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangxi.
 
     To further promote exchanges and co-operation between the two places as well as provide better services to Hong Kong people working, studying and living in Guangxi, the HKSAR Government set up the Guangxi Liaison Unit in Nanning on April 18 this year.
 
     Ms Chang also remarked that 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. To commemorate this occasion, the Mainland offices of the HKSAR Government will organise over 100 celebration activities in various Mainland provinces and municipalities. With respect to Guangxi, apart from this gala dinner, a multimedia concert and a large-scale exhibition will be held later this month and in this September respectively.
 
     Other officiating guests present at the ceremony today included the Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr Peng Qinghua; the Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr Wang Ke; the Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhang Xiaoqin; the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, Mr Albert Tang; and the Director of the Guangxi Liaison Unit, Miss Phoebe Lo.
 
     The Guangxi Liaison Unit was set up under the purview of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong.  Its temporary office is located at Room 502, Red Forest Hotel (Nanning), No 129 Minzu Avenue, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. For enquiries, Guangxi Liaison Unit can be reached by phone at (86 771) 2611 228 or by email at gxlu@gdeto.gov.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:29

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