Recently, the 10th session of the Beijing-Hong Kong Consultation Meeting on Economic and Trade Cooperation was opened at the Hong Kong Convention Center.  Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Wang Qishan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Committee and Mayor of Beijing were present at the opening ceremony.

In his speech, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said that "Beijing-Hong Kong Consultation Meeting is a grand event annually.  The related industries of both sides will probe into and exchange opinions in the context of financial service, culture and tourist industry so as to energetically seek more cooperation opportunities for the two places.  The related industries in Hong Kong will certainly make continuous and active contribution to the work of Beijing in various fields.  He said that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is approaching, therefore, Beijing will become the focus of the world.  As all the preparatory work for the Beijing Olympic Games is carried out vigorously and in addition to the further opening and implementation of CEPA, the various activities of this consultation meeting is expected to further pushing forward the economic cooperation between Beijing and Hong Kong, thus promoting the common prosperity of both places.  He hopes cooperation will be carried out in the context of applied science and technology, protection for intellectual property as well as the cultural creation industry, so as to raise the competitive edge of the enterprises in Beijing and Hong Kong and even better meet the challenges brought about by globalization.

In his speech, Wang Qishan said that the future orientation for the development of Beijing in the five years to come is as follows: First is to seek the road of the high-end industry development; Second is to build a resource conserving and environmental friendly city; Third is to energetically build an innovation city, with the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park zone as the core; Fourth is to earnestly strengthen the city administration and the protection of Beijing as an ancient capital city; Fifth is to raise the level of opening up in an all-round manner and accelerate the transformation of the mode of growth of trade; Sixth is to earnestly push forward the  them building of a new socialist countryside.  Beijing will implement the spirit of the sixth plenary session of the Sixteen CPC Central Committee and earnestly build Beijing into a socialist and harmonious society.  As an assistance city for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Hong Kong has given active support to the preparatory work of the Beijing Olympics.  We are willing to, together with the fields of Hong Kong from all the circles, jointly share the development opportunities brought about by the Beijing Olympic Games.

Wang Qishan said that the function of a city government can be summarized as follows: "Planning, Development, Construction, Operation, Administration and Service." The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has many successful experiences which are worthy of our sharing.  Looking at a long-term perspective, both Beijing and Hong Kong have their respective advantages and the development and cooperation between Beijing and Hong Kong is conducive to the prosperity of both places as well as to the prosperity and richness of the nation and the rejuvenation of the nationalities.

Finally, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said that both Beijing and Hong Kong have unique and irreplaceable functions of their own and with strong complementarities.  He hopes both sides will enhance cooperation in the Beijing Olympic Games, finance, implementation of CEPA, high science and technology, cultural creation industry and other areas.  Doing a good job for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and hosting the Horsemanship Match in Hong Kong is the common goal of both sides.  He hopes Beijing and Hong Kong will coordinate with each other, extensively launch the publicity activities for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and jointly do a good job in the recruitment work of the volunteers and jointly develop the market of the tourist industry.

2006-11-20

2006-11-20