************************************************************
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Vice-Governor of Fujian Province, Mr Liang Jianyong, today (April 15) co-chaired the Second Hong Kong-Fujian Co-operation Conference in Hong Kong. Relevant officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Fujian Provincial People's Government also attended the Conference.
"This year marks the beginning of the implementation of the National 13th Five-Year Plan while proactive efforts are being made by the Mainland at the central, provincial and municipal levels to pursue development of the Belt and Road Initiative. We believe that both sides will continue to create opportunities for co-operation in the areas of economic and trade, financial services, culture, creative industries and youth exchange," Mrs Lam said.
At the meeting, the governments of HKSAR and Fujian Province reviewed the progress of their co-operation and exchanges since the last meeting held in January 2015 and considered that fruitful results had been achieved in the areas of economic and trade, financial services, education, youth and cultural exchanges and creative industries. Looking ahead, the two sides reached consensus on strengthening co-operation in the following areas in the coming years:
Economic and trade co-operation
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Both sides agreed to further strengthen economic and trade co-operation through the liaison mechanism established under the Agreement on Strengthening Economic and Trade Co-operation between Hong Kong and Fujian Province, including leveraging the unique advantages of Hong Kong and Fujian enterprises, exploring markets in countries and regions along the Belt and Road through various collaborative approaches and developing multi-destination cruise itineraries which include Hong Kong and Fujian.
Financial co-operation
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Both sides agreed to further strengthen financial co-operation through the liaison mechanism established under the Agreement on Strengthening Financial Co-operation between Hong Kong and Fujian Province, including encouraging more Hong Kong service providers in professions such as accountancy, insurance, securities to set up businesses in Fujian, encouraging more Fujian enterprises to list in Hong Kong and set up captive insurers in Hong Kong, etc.
Innovation and technology
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The "Made in China 2025" strategy is committed to promoting the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing industry in the Mainland, and the National 13th Five-Year Plan also emphasises the Mainland and Hong Kong/Macao commencing co-operation on the innovation and technology front. Riding on the opportunity of Quanzhou in Fujian Province being designated as the first pilot city under the "Made in China 2025" strategy, both sides agreed to support the manufacturing, innovation and technology, and service industries in both places to enhance exchanges and to explore co-operation opportunities, with a view to promoting "re-industrialisation" of Hong Kong as well as transformation and upgrading of Fujian's manufacturing industry.
Both sides also agreed to explore means to promote co-operation and exchanges on technology between the two places, including providing training to cultivate young IT talents through the Enriched IT Programme.
Youth exchange
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Both sides agreed that youth exchange would be a key Hong Kong-Fujian co-operation item in the coming years. Apart from enhancing the breadth and depth of the sister school scheme in the two places, agreement was also reached in supporting the youth in the two places to conduct reciprocal visits and joint study tours to countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road with a view to promoting mutual understanding among the youth of the two places.
Exchanges on cultural and creative industries
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Rich cultural heritage in Fujian and unique blend of eastern and western heritage and culture in Hong Kong create huge room for co-operation in the cultural and creative industries between the two places. Both sides agreed to make continuous efforts to promote co-operation in cultural and creative industries, encourage two-way exchanges on arts exhibitions and performances as well as sports events, including participating in exhibitions of cultural heritage, food and cultural festivals and Silk Road International Film Festival, promoting mutual understanding and friendship among people of the two places.
Accompanying Mrs Lam to attend the Conference were the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Chang King-yiu; the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui; the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Godfrey Leung; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Dr David Chung; and the Deputy Secretary for Education, Mr Brian Lo.
Before the Conference, the Chief Secretary for Administration hosted a lunch for the Vice-Governor of Fujian Province and his delegation. After the Conference, the government of HKSAR arranged a visit to PMQ, located on Hollywood Road in the Hong Kong Island, for the officials of Fujian Province to understand more about the development of Hong Kong's design industry.
Ends/Friday, April 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:50
NNNN