Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 in Hainan and held a number of bilateral meetings today.

Mrs Lam attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 opening ceremony in the morning.

The theme of this year's conference is A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance & Advance Belt & Road Cooperation.

President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech with the theme of Pulling Together Through Adversity & Toward a Shared Future for All via video at the opening ceremony, while Vice President Wang Qishan attended in person.

In the afternoon, Mrs Lam attended the Invigorate Development through Vibrant City Clusters: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a Model session to discuss with participating guests topics including how the GBA can draw on the development experiences of various city clusters around the world, construct a focused area of global innovation and technology (I&T) and emerging industries, and attract talents.

She pointed out in her remarks that Hong Kong has unique advantages under “one country, two systems” and is a highly market-oriented and international economy underpinned by the rule of law, which can complement the advantages of the GBA cities to create synergy.

On I&T development in particular, Hong Kong has top-notch capabilities in basic scientific research, and, coupled with the advanced manufacturing technology of the GBA cities in the Mainland, Hong Kong can promote the development of an international I&T hub in the GBA together with other cities.

She said Hong Kong can also serve as a talent base in the GBA, leveraging its metropolitan status and attractiveness to entice overseas talents to work in the bay area, thereby enhancing the flow of talents.

Mrs Lam also attended the Women Roundtable with women's power and social responsibility as the theme to discuss with outstanding female leaders from around the world how women can take up social responsibility in a better way and participate in economic activities more proactively in the post-pandemic era.

The Chief Executive said that whether in Hong Kong or in other places of the world, many of the people who were involved in the fight against the COVID-19 virus in the past year or so were women, making remarkable contributions to public health.

She pointed out that through the continued efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, good progress has been made in the promotion of women's development and rights.

Mrs Lam said the Government will continue to roll out appropriate support measures to unleash the female labour force, allowing women to give full play to their potential.

The Chief Executive had a number of bilateral meetings. Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit and Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui also attended some of them.

In the morning, Mrs Lam met China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Vice Chairman Fang Xinghai.

Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the CSRC for its long-standing support for Hong Kong's financial development, adding that Hong Kong will proactively integrate with the overall development of the nation.

She hoped that with the support of the CSRC, Hong Kong will fully leverage its advantages as an international financial centre to contribute to the country's economic reform and opening up in the financial area.

Mrs Lam also met State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) Chairman Hao Peng.

She thanked the SASAC for its staunch support for the Hong Kong SAR Government for its work to promote the Belt & Road Initiative, including the Belt & Road Summit held every year in Hong Kong and the high-level roundtable conducted earlier this year, promoting exchanges and co-operation between state-owned enterprises and Hong Kong's business and professional services sector to take part in projects of the Belt & Road Initiative.

The Chief Executive said the Hong Kong SAR Government will seize the opportunities brought about by the Belt & Road Initiative and continue to give full play to the city's advantages to serve as a vital connection platform under the country’s dual circulation strategy.

At a meeting with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Jin Liqun, Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to him for being the keynote speaker of the 14th Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong in January and congratulated the bank for completing its first five years of operation, enabling it to move from the stage of building up to that of expansion.

She said the Hong Kong SAR will continue to provide unwavering support for the AIIB's operations including project financing, bond issuance, investment, financial management and foreign exchange management, and will actively participate in the bank's development at its next stage.

Mrs Lam also met CPC Hainan Provincial Committee Secretary Shen Xiaoming yesterday and will meet Hainan Governor Feng Fei later today.

The Chief Executive told Mr Shen that she was very pleased to travel to Hainan in person this year to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. Noting that this year marks the Boao Forum for Asia's 20th anniversary, she wished Hainan's forum this year a great success.

Mrs Lam also pointed out that Hainan is an important gateway at the forefront of China's new opening-up era.

She said Hong Kong has all along been externally oriented with a free trade policy and a legal system in line with international standards and that the two places can work together to help Hainan enterprises go global.

In addition to attending the events of the Annual Conference and holding bilateral meetings in the past two days, Mrs Lam gave interviews to a number of Hong Kong, Mainland and international media organisations.