The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (April 9) attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in Hainan and met with the leaders of Hebei and Hainan Provinces.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam met with the Governor of Hebei Province, Mr Xu Qin, in the morning. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet Mr Xu for the first time in his new capacity as the Governor of Hebei Province and thanked him for his efforts in promoting co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen during his tenure as the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. Noting that both the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Cooperative Development and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area are national development strategies which will provide new impetus for the future economic development of the country as well as Asia and the world, she expressed the hope that she and Mr Xu will continue to work hard together in their respective positions. Mrs Lam said that there is still considerable room for increasing Hong Kong’s investment in Hebei, with innovation and technology, advanced manufacturing and agriculture being some of the potential areas. She added that Hong Kong has rich experience in city management and rapid growth in arts and culture and that she looks forward to enhancing exchanges with Hebei in these aspects.

     Mrs Lam later attended the CEO Roundtable of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 and listened to success stories and experience sharing on the Belt and Road Initiative by political and business leaders from various countries. She also discussed a range of topics with the participants, including how financial institutions can play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative while guarding against excessive risks, how enterprises should cope with inadequate market information in countries along the Belt and Road, and how to encourage private capital to participate actively in the Belt and Road Initiative.

     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam joined the discussion session on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and delivered a speech. Mrs Lam said the success of the Bay Area would hinge on whether its innovation could provide new impetus for the quality development of the Bay Area, and whether it could serve as an important link between China and other parts of Asia as well as the rest of the world. No matter whether it is in innovation or connectivity, Hong Kong is able make vital contributions to the Bay Area. She added that following the forthcoming promulgation of the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will hold forums and jointly organise overseas promotional events to enhance understanding of the Bay Area among the people in the three places and overseas enterprises.

     After the session, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr Liu Cigui, and the Governor of Hainan Province, Mr Shen Xiaoming. Mrs Lam congratulated Hainan Province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone on their 30th anniversary of establishment and the successful hosting of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018. She said Hong Kong has enjoyed close relations with Hainan Province and the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association has a history of over 100 years, and added that in the future the two places may enhance co-operation in various areas including promoting multi-destination itineraries together. She also encouraged Hainan enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's mature financial platform and quality professional services to "go global", exploring the international market together.

     In the evening, Mrs Lam joined a dinner event featuring a dialogue between the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, and the Chairman of Alibaba Group, Mr Jack Ma. She then met with the Hong Kong student volunteers at the annual conference. She will attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference tomorrow (April 10).

Ends/Monday, April 9, 2018
Issued at HKT 21:26

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