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The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, began his first official visit to the Republic of Korea in Seoul today (November 26).
In the morning, the Chief Executive called on the President of the Republic of Korea, Ms Park Geun-hye, and took the opportunity to introduce Hong Kong's unique role as the super-connector between the Mainland of China and the rest of the world. Speaking on bilateral trade with Korea, Mr Leung said he believed there is room for Hong Kong and Korea to co-operate more closely and to identify new collaboration opportunities for the mutual benefit of the two places. He said he looked forward to forging closer co-operation with Korea on the creative industry front. The meeting also noted that the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Mr Kim Jong-deok, had taken the opportunity of the Chief Executive's visit to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Creative Industries in Seoul today.
Mr Leung earlier visited an entertainment company which promotes pop music and culture. He encouraged Korean filmmakers to team up with Hong Kong partners for co-productions in order to enjoy preferential access to markets in the Mainland of China under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
In the afternoon, the Chief Executive met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yun Byung-se, to exchange views on how to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and Korea. He also had a meeting with the Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Mr Choi Yang-hee, to consider ways to foster co-operation between Hong Kong and Korea in information and communications technology as well as innovation and technology.
The Chief Executive will tour Dongdaemun Design Plaza tomorrow morning (November 27). He will address a luncheon to be hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Korea International Trade Association where he will meet with local political and economic leaders. In the afternoon, Mr Leung will have a meeting with the President of the Korea Creative Content Agency, Mr Hong Sang-pyo, and visit the Samsung Innovation Museum before returning to Hong Kong in the evening.
Ends/Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:06
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