Guests and speakers pose for a group photo at the 8th Conference for Wenzhou Natives in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on May 22, 2023. (ZHANG TIANYUAN / CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged Chinese mainland enterprises to leverage the international financial center’s infrastructure and professional services to foster complementary advantages within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Lee made the remarks through video link on Monday at the 8th Conference for Wenzhou Natives in the Greater Bay Area.
Leung said he hopes “Wenzhou and Hong Kong can continuously strive to deepen and solidify cooperation, not only in traditional areas but also in exploring new avenues of collaboration”
“I encourage everyone to make good use of Hong Kong’s international financing platform, superior business environment, and world-leading professional services in the Greater Bay Area” to promote its development, Lee said.
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The city’s leader noted that under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of being connected to the world with the support of the nation.
“Hong Kong, a highly internationalized city with an open and convenient business environment, along with quality professional services, has entered a new phase of recovery” in the post-pandemic era, he said.
Wenzhou businesspeople are known for their shrewdness and competence, exhibiting a powerful spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, Lee said, adding that this spirit aligns with the “Lion Rock spirit” of Hong Kong people, characterized by their “diligent work ethic, adaptability, and indomitable perseverance, resonating with each other”.
Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said a lack of comprehensive understanding on the mainland exists regarding the functions and roles of Hong Kong, while Hong Kong has an incomplete awareness of the development opportunities across various regions in the mainland.
Leung said he hopes “Wenzhou and Hong Kong can continuously strive to deepen and solidify cooperation, not only in traditional areas but also in exploring new avenues of collaboration.”
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Wenzhou, a coastal city in southeastern Zhejiang province, is seen as the birthplace of the mainland’s private economy and a seedbed for industrialists. Wenzhou businesspeople have a reputation for their prowess in international trade, exporting a wide array of products — ranging from sofas to soap — to destinations like Italy and Iraq.
tianyuanzhang@chinadailyhk.com