Chief Executive John Lee today began his trip to Guiyang in Guizhou Province by meeting leaders of Guizhou and several other Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Mainland provinces and visited a local big data centre.

In the morning, accompanied by CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee Member and Publicity Department Head Lu Yongzheng, Mr Lee visited the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Pilot Zone Communication & Experience Center to learn more about the development and planning of Guizhou's big data industry as well as how the province utilises big data to promote the innovative development of various industries.

At a meeting with CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee Secretary Xu Lin, Mr Lee thanked Guizhou Province for hosting the 2023 PPRD Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference, wishing it great success.

He pointed out that Hong Kong is Guizhou's largest trading partner and largest source of external investment, accounting for 71.7% of the cumulative foreign direct investment in the province.

As an international financial, trade and shipping centre with a high-quality service sector and extensive international business rapport, Hong Kong is an effective platform for Guizhou's enterprises to enter the international market and for foreign investors to invest in Guizhou.

Mr Lee also believes that Guizhou and Hong Kong can conduct further exchanges and co-operation in areas including innovation and technology, tourism and culture.

In the afternoon, the Chief Executive met the governors of five PPRD Mainland provinces who attended the joint conference in Guizhou, including Sichuan Governor Huang Qiang, Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo, Hainan Governor Liu Xiaoming, Fujian Governor Zhao Long and Jiangxi Governor Ye Jianchun.

During talks with Mr Huang, Mr Lee said Sichuan and Hong Kong have a strong co-operation foundation, and exchanges between the two places have become closer since the Hong Kong-Sichuan Co-operation Conference mechanism was established.

He hoped the two places could leverage their own strengths and enhance exchanges and co-operation in such areas as trade and investment, innovation and technology as well as cultural and youth exchanges, and wished great success to the 31st FISU World University Games to be held in Chengdu, Sichuan at the end of July.

Mr Lee then met Mr Wang, saying that with its rich historical and cultural background as well as beautiful nature, Yunnan is a popular tourist destination for Hong Kong people and also a good place for Hong Kong's youth and students to learn more about the country's history and culture.

He added that he looks forward to more exchanges and co-operation between both places on areas including trade and investment, logistics and transportation, and cultural tourism.

In discussions with Mr Liu, the Chief Executive highlighted the close relationship between Hainan and Hong Kong with frequent flows of people, goods and capital, in addition to the city being the largest source of external investment in Hainan. 

Mr Lee thanked the People's Government of Hainan Province for issuing offshore renminbi local government bonds in Hong Kong last year, achieving mutual benefits for the two places.

He pointed out that Hong Kong has a large pool of talent in professional services that could contribute to the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port to bring mutual benefits.

Meeting Mr Zhao, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong and Fujian have maintained close exchanges and co-operation in various aspects including trade and investment, cultural tourism and youth development.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Fujian Co-operation Conference was held successfully in Hong Kong last month, at which the governments of the two places agreed to pursue holistic exchanges and co-operation in 10 key areas, and three co-operation agreements on culture, education and trade were signed by government departments and statutory bodies of the two places, enabling the relationship between Fujian and Hong Kong to reach new heights.

Mr Lee later met Mr Ye and outlined that Hong Kong has been the largest source of external investment and an important trading partner for Jiangxi for years as well as the main capital market for Jiangxi enterprises being listed overseas.

The Chief Executive expressed hope that more Jiangxi enterprises could leverage on Hong Kong's advantages as a highly open and international city with an open and facilitating business environment as well as quality professional services to develop business opportunities.

Noting that Jiangxi is a major food supply source to Hong Kong, Mr Lee thanked the province for its contribution to ensuring Hong Kong residents' need of daily necessities.

In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by leaders of Guizhou Province for chief executives of PPRD Mainland provinces or regions and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The Chief Executive then visited the Qingyun Market, a distinctive commercial district in Guiyang, to learn more about the city's experience in re-planning and reconstructing a former knitting factory into a core consumption space, and the market's diversified development in introducing food and beverage and cultural creative brands.

Mr Lee will attend the 2023 PPRD Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference in Guiyang tomorrow.