CE arrives in Sydney for APEC Economic Leaders' meeting (with photos)
********************************************************

    The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, arrived in Sydney, Australia, this morning (September 6) to attend the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) over the weekend (September 8 and 9).
 
     Climate change will be a major topic at this year's APEC meeting. Noting that it was a global challenge that required concerted efforts from all economies in the world, Mr Tsang believed that global vision and collective determination would be necessary to develop strategies and implement mitigating measures so as to avert or ameliorate its adverse impacts.

     This afternoon, Mr Tsang attended the APEC 2007 Business Summit at which President Hu Jintao delivered a keynote address.  He then held a bilateral meeting with Australia's Prime Minister Mr John Howard. They agreed that Hong Kong and Australia were important trading partners and looked forward to even closer trade and economic ties between the two places.

      Mr Tsang encouraged Australian companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, to explore the Mainland market through Hong Kong. He also updated the prime minister on Hong Kong's efforts in protecting the environment and exchanged views on how the global community could better cope with the harmful effects of climate change.
 
     In the evening, the Chief Executive officiated at a reception for Hong Kong businessmen and prominent local interlocutors hosted by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma.
He will join other leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting over the weekend to discuss a wide range of issues, including prospects for the WTO Doha Round; regional economic integration; "behind-the-border" impediments to trade and structural reform; revitalising APEC process and institutions; APEC membership and reform; climate change, energy security and clean development; as well as human security.

Ends/Thursday, September 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:23

NNNN