Financial Secretary John Tsang will lead a business delegation to Heilongjiang Province in China and Vladivostok in Russia from May 16 to 22, to explore business opportunities and learn more about Sino-Russian trade.

The first stop will be Harbin in Heilongjiang Province where Mr Tsang will give a keynote speech at the Heilongjiang-Hong Kong Business Co-operation Symposium on May 17.

He will call on the Heilongjiang Provincial Government and visit a Harbin aircraft industry company and a Hong Kong enterprise in the Harbin Development Zone.

On May 18, Mr Tsang will head to Suifenhe, near the China-Russia border, to visit some enterprises to enhance the delegation's understanding of the investment environment and infrastructure there, as well as the channels of trade and products traded with Russia.

The delegation will cross the border and arrive in Vladivostok on May 19.

Mr Tsang will visit key local Vladivostok government officials. He will also officiate and deliver a keynote address at a business seminar.

Mr Tsang will meet with the private sector leaders in business, banking, property development, finance and shipping. He will take a boat trip to Russky Island, to see the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit 2012, and have a lunch meeting with the directors and members of the Primorsky Region Chamber of Commerce.

During Mr Tsang's absence, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Prof KC Chan, will be Acting Financial Secretary.