The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, and the Hong Kong delegation attended the 2016 Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum in Ningbo today (November 2). The theme of this year’s Forum is "Opening Up and Sharing; Collaboration for Success," focusing on how Ningbo, Taizhou, Zhoushan, Hong Kong and Macau can achieve mutual success through collaboration on the Silk Road, and in particular, in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt Development Strategy promulgated by the Mainland, and in grasping the opportunities brought about by the planned creation of a metropolis that comprises Ningbo, Taizhou and Zhoushan.
The Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum is jointly organised by the Ningbo Municipal People's Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to promote trade and economic co-operation between the two cities, and has been hosted alternately by Ningbo and Hong Kong since 2002.
Speaking at the Forum's opening ceremony, Mr Chan gave an account of the co-operation between Hong Kong and Ningbo in economic and trade development and on the cultural front over the years. He also outlined the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes establishing the Belt and Road Office and the Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office, organising visits for the commercial sector and professionals to the countries along the Silk Road to promote services and open up business opportunities, the creation of a dedicated website on the Belt and Road Initiative by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and organising summits, forums and programmes for cultural exchange. He also introduced Hong Kong’s advantages in finance, insurance, air services, high value-added logistic services, legal and arbitration services, accounting, construction, design, management of construction projects and various professional services.
During the visit, Mr Chan met with the Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee and Acting Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal Government, Mr Tang Yijun; the Vice Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee and the Director of the Standing Committee of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Congress, Mr Wang Yong; the Vice Mayors of the Ningbo Municipal People's Government, Mr Wang Jianhou and Mr Wang Renzhou; and officials from the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department. He also visited the Ningbo Planning Bureau and exchanged experience in conservation of heritage and historic structures with the Bureau’s Director, Ms Wang Liping. Mr Chan also visited the Museum of the Tianyi Pavilion.
Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (November 3).