HK is Beijing's most important source of direct investment: official

In the first three quarters of 2021, Hong Kong's direct investment in Beijing reached $10.63 billion, accounting for about 80 percent of the total use of foreign investment in the capital city, a senior government official said Monday.

Meanwhile, from January to October, the direct investment from Beijing to Hong Kong reached $2.68 billion, an increase of 1.13 times over the same period last year, Wang Wenjie, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government, said at a themed activity during the ongoing Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium on Monday.

"Hong Kong has always been Beijing's most important source of foreign investment and a destination for outward foreign direct investment of Beijing," he said.

According to Wang, Beijing welcomes enterprises from Hong Kong to invest in the capital city and share business opportunities. At the same time, the two places can actively meet the needs of industrial transformation and upgrading to strengthen the investment cooperation in new infrastructures, energy conservation, and environmental protection.

Dai Ying, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, said from 2016 to 2020, Beijing set its framework as an international exchange center. In the future, the capital city will deepen exchanges and cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to better equip Beijing as an international exchange center.

"In next five years, Beijing will focus on building the innovative, digital, green and health Silk Road to construct five functional platforms, including international exchanges, scientific and technological cooperation, economic and trade investment, cultural exchanges and comprehensive service, to better make Beijing's contribution to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," she said.

Contact the writer at xinwen@chinadaily.com.cn