Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Jilin Provincial Committee Secretary Huang Qiang at Government House to discuss co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Jilin.

Mr Huang and his delegation were in Hong Kong promoting Jilin’s industries and Jilin-Hong Kong economic and trade ties.

Welcoming them, Mr Lee said Jilin serves as an important gateway for the country’s northward opening-up under the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). He also highlighted that Jilin boasts a robust industrial and manufacturing sector, and that its expertise in manufacturing automobiles and high-speed trains is unmatched nationally.

As a functional BRI platform, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will continue to function as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to assist Jilin and other Mainland provinces and cities in expanding to global markets, while also attracting more external investment to the country.

Following the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Changchun, Jilin in December, Mr Lee said economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two places will be further enhanced, fostering people-to-people bonds.

The Chief Executive stressed that Hong Kong will continue to deepen its multifaceted exchanges and co-operation with Jilin, leveraging complementary strengths so that the two places can jointly make greater contributions to the country’s development.

Acting Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.