Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung began his Beijing itinerary yesterday by meeting State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong.

Mr Yeung introduced the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau's (CSTB) latest work to Mr Xia who fully recognised its work and expressed hope that Hong Kong's tourism industry would reach new heights on the path to continuous innovation.

This morning, Mr Yeung attended the Plaque Unveiling Ceremony for the Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub and witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Co-operation on the Promotion of Chinese Culture & Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The five-year programme aims to promote Chinese traditional culture through the integration of arts and technology, deepening the understanding and appreciation of Chinese history and culture among younger generations on the Mainland and Hong Kong. It also seeks to enhance the capability building of arts tech professionals, as well as facilitate talent development and exchanges among talent in the sector, thereby strengthening social cohesion and promoting Chinese culture to the world.

In the afternoon, Mr Yeung met Ministry of Culture & Tourism International Exchange & Cooperation Bureau Director General and National Museum of China Director Gao Zheng to discuss and explore the co-operation direction on cultural and tourism development.

Hong Kong is positioned as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The CSTB said it has been integrating into the national development based on the principle of "shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism", with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international tourism hub and a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism.

Mr Yeung said the Ministry of Culture & Tourism has long been supportive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's work.

"It gives policy support in cultural and tourism development and provides appropriate assistance in programme implementation. I look forward to deepening collaboration and exchange on the culture and tourism fronts between the Mainland and Hong Kong through the exchange."

The culture chief will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.