Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation at the 11th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation & Development Forum & Trade Fair in Guangzhou today.
The forum’s 11th edition was jointly organised by the Guangdong and Fujian governments under the theme “Deepening Pan-Pearl River Delta regional co-operation and promoting innovation of Pilot Free Trade Zones".
During the forum a business networking luncheon was jointly held by the governments of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Fujian and Macau.
It attracted 150 participants, including officials from delta provinces and regions, and representatives from enterprises and academics.
In the National 13th Five-Year Plan the chapter dedicated to Hong Kong makes clear for the first time the support for Hong Kong and Macau in playing an important role in Pan-Pearl River Delta regional co-operation.
The luncheon helped the enterprises of Hong Kong and other delta provinces and regions to open up more business and investment opportunities brought about by Pilot Free Trade Zones, and gave full play to Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector.
The forum is an important regional co-operation platform covering nine provinces and regions - Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan - and the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions. It accounts for one-third of the country’s population and gross domestic product.