Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Week and the SmartHK forum held by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in Guangzhou, May 24, 2023. The photo also shows (first row, from fourth left) Vice-Governor of Guangdong province, Zhang Xin; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Yin Zonghua; Governor of Guangdong province, Wang Weizhong; Chairman of the HKTDC, Dr Peter Lam. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVT)

GUANGZHOU – SmartHK, a flagship event during Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Week, kicked off in Guangzhou on Wednesday, to further promote cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The event, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Guangdong Department of Commerce, featured an exhibition area, start-up pitching sessions and on-site business matchmaking to facilitate connections and cooperation between companies from Hong Kong and Guangdong.

Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Week runs from Wednesday to June 7 in the GBA, with more than 20 business and trade activities across GBA cities, to accelerate collaboration and exchange between Hong Kong and Guangdong government departments, organizations, chambers of commerce and trade associations.

Chief Executive John Lee (right) and Governor of Guangdong province Wang Weizhong  attend the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Week and the SmartHK forum held by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Guangzhou, May 24, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVT)

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu; Wang Weizhong, governor of Guangdong province; Yin Zonghua, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and Zhang Xin, deputy governor of Guangdong, attended the opening ceremony.

Peter KN Lam, chairman of the HKTDC, presided over the opening ceremony of event. 

Chief Executive John Lee (right) is being briefed by Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, Linda So (left) on the exhibition booth set up by the office at the SmartHK exhibition in Guangzhou, May 24, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVT)

He said Hong Kong's development has been closely tied to that of Guangdong for many years.

As two core cities in the GBA, Hong Kong and Guangzhou have long maintained close cooperation, and they complement each other's advantages in various fields, including finance, innovation, technology and the creative sector.

About 1,000 government officials, business representatives, experts and scholars attended the event.