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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, and the Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dato' Mustapa Mohamed, signed a Joint Declaration on Strengthening Economic Co-operation in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 1 (Geneva time).
"Malaysia is an important trading partner of Hong Kong. The signing of the Joint Declaration signifies the development of closer trade and economic ties between the two sides," Mrs Lau said at a signing ceremony that took place at the margins of the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation.
"The Joint Declaration lays the foundation for future discussion of a possible bilateral free trade agreement between Hong Kong and Malaysia", she added.
The Joint Declaration on Strengthening Economic Co-operation aims to encourage and promote bilateral economic co-operation in areas such as:
(a) trade in goods;
(b) trade in services;
(c) investment;
(d) science and technology;
(e) creative industry;
(e) small and medium enterprises development; and
(f) tourism.
It also covers co-operation between the two economies in areas of transparency of trade rules and regulations and furthering business opportunities in other markets, as well as technical assistance and capacity-building in areas of mutual interest.
Ends/Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 09:59
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