The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement on development of new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialization.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Prof Sun Dong and Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiong Jijun represented Hong Kong and the mainland respectively in signing the agreement.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong witnessed the signing of the agreement.
The agreement also strengthened exchanges between the two sides in the fields of industry and information technology, promoting cooperation and joint development in industries where both places have clear advantages, the government said in a statement.
The CE said the HKSAR government actively develops new quality productive forces, promotes new industrialization, and fosters better integration into the national system of industry and innovation.
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“The signing of the cooperation agreement between the Hong Kong SAR government and the MIIT today signifies the importance of our efforts to integrate into the national development.”
The HKSAR government will collaborate with the MIIT to further advance innovation, technology and industry, injecting new impetus into economic development and making greater contribution to the comprehensive promotion of Chinese modernization to build a great country and achieve national rejuvenation, he said.
Before the signing ceremony, both sides updated each other on the latest policy initiatives for developing new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialization.
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They also exchanged views on areas for strengthened cooperation and discussed how the two places could promote the development of innovation and technology while integrating into the overall national development.
Also on Thursday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po who was accompanying the CE on his visit to Beijing, called on Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an.
Chan had in-depth exchanges with Lan on the economic and financial situations of the mainland, Hong Kong and the world, the development of Hong Kong as an international financial center, mutual access between the capital markets of the mainland and Hong Kong and strengthening the cooperation of audit supervision on mainland enterprises listed in Hong Kong.
Upon arriving in Beijing, Chan visited the research and development headquarters of a mainland new energy vehicle enterprise and met its representatives, according to a government statement.
Listed in Hong Kong and supported by the HKSAR government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the company is positively considering to conduct key scientific research projects, establish a financial management center and a trade settlement center in Hong Kong and launch research cooperation with Hong Kong universities and research institutions.
Pointing out that Hong Kong has competitive advantages in artificial intelligence, new energy and new materials, along with international capital and a pool of research and development talent, the finance chief encouraged the company to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to launch research and development, expand into the global market and grow its business.
