Chief Executive Carrie Lam today met Vice Minister of Culture & Tourism Zhang Xu at Government House.

Welcoming Mr Zhang's visit to Hong Kong, Mrs Lam said she was pleased to have attended a summit with him this afternoon on developing Hong Kong into a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, organised by the China Federation of Literary & Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association.

She also thanked the Ministry of Culture & Tourism for its long-standing support to Hong Kong's arts and cultural development, including its participation in the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the establishment of the Hong Kong Palace Museum as well as its promotion of arts and cultural exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive said that the "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic & Social Development of the People's Republic of China & the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" approved in March has included Hong Kong's cultural status in the national plan and mentioned its support for the city to develop as an arts and cultural exchanges hub between China and the rest of the world for the first time.

She noted that it is a recognition of the city's cultural achievements and provides a shot in the arm for the cultural sector.

Mrs Lam added that the Hong Kong SAR Government was deeply encouraged and will continue to make efforts on various fronts to achieve the goal of developing into a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

This includes setting up world-class cultural facilities and spaces for diversified culture, establishing close ties with renowned overseas cultural institutions, continually promoting cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, making good use of innovation and technology as well as nurturing talents.

On tourism, Mrs Lam pointed out that Hong Kong is putting in place stringent measures to control the epidemic and is striving to enhance the vaccination rate to create a favourable condition for the resumption of cross-boundary people flow between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Various support measures have also been rolled out to tide the sector over the difficult time.

She expressed her gratitude to Mr Zhang for taking the time to meet the local tourism sector during his stay in Hong Kong to learn more about its situation.

The Chief Executive added that she hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture & Tourism to relaunch cross-boundary travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong after the stabilisation of the disease in the future.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau and Director of Leisure & Cultural Services Vincent Liu also attended the meeting.