Tsang and Li get down to business
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Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province, and Donald Tsang, Hong Kong Chief Executive , lead trade talks in July this year. |
On July 21, Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province, talked with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who led a delegation to the province to discuss stronger cooperation and mutual development between the two regions.
Li noted that Heilongjiang in the northeast of China has great potential for further development.
The traditional industrial center has advantages in energy, raw materials and commodity provision, he said.
He added that the province was now accelerating its opening to the outside world.
Heilongjiang is promoting border trade with Russia and rejuvenating aging industrial facilities, with the emphasis on development in equipment manufacturing, petrochemicals, energy, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and forestry, Li said.
He added that cooperation between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland "is gradually deepening".
Hong Kong has become the mainland's largest investment source, the biggest re-export platform, and the largest listed fund-raising center.
With the increasing speed of Hong Kong's service industry entering the mainland, there are more opportunities for cooperation with Heilongjiang, he said.
The province is willing to improve the investment environment to make it complementary with Hong Kong companies, the governor said.
The provincial government will deepen cooperation and realize mutual development under the support policies to Hong Kong enterprises, Li hoped.
Tsang said he has seen the prospects for cooperation in many fields and received the warm hospitality during his two-day visit in Heilongjiang province.
He added that the Hong Kong business community now has a better understanding of the investment environment and infrastructure conditions in Heilongjiang as a result of the visit, as well as a closer relationship between governments and enterprises.
"The Hong Kong government will help to promote the rejuvenation of the northeast industrial center. As well, Hong Kong companies will play an active role in the development of the Chinese mainland," Tsang said.
(China Daily 08/04/2008 page8)
