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The Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, attending a lunch meeting with directors and advisors of the Vancouver section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association in Vancouver, Canada, today (February 12, Vancouver time), encouraged Canadian enterprises to make full use of Hong Kong's strengths in tapping the massive Asian markets and beyond under the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Belt and Road is, in essence, an invitation to the international community to join hands to take global and regional co-operation to new heights, in particular in terms of enhancing policy co-ordination, strengthening infrastructural facilities connectivity, facilitating unimpeded trade and investment, deepening financial integration and building people-to-people bonds," Mr So said.
In this connection, Hong Kong is well placed to partner with Canadian companies to participate in the initiative to tap the business opportunities in the markets along the Belt and Road.
"With our distinctive advantage operating under the unique 'one country, two systems' framework, Hong Kong can play a central role in delivering the enormous opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative," he added.
Before the lunch meeting, Mr So paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver, Ms Liu Fei.
He next met with the Chair of the Board of Directors of Creative BC, Mr Gordon Esau, to exchange views on the promotion of creative industries. Creative BC is an independent agency for promoting the development of creative industries in the province of British Columbia.
In the afternoon, Mr So met with the Minister of International Trade of British Columbia, Ms Teresa Wat. He pointed out that Hong Kong is a "super-connector" between Mainland China and other parts of the world, and the ideal gateway for British Columbia businesses to enter the vast Chinese and Asian markets. British Columbia companies in Hong Kong can leverage on the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to gain easier access to the Chinese market.
Before concluding his visit, Mr So attended a Chinese New Year celebration dinner with the Hong Kong community in Vancouver.
Mr So will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (February 14).
Ends/Saturday, February 13, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:59
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