The 12th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair (PPRD Forum) was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on September 5. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to join the Forum.

     The theme of the 12th PPRD Forum was "Greater Bay Area: Driving Innovation, Collaboration and Opportunities". Speaking at the opening ceremony in the morning, Mrs Lam said, "The PPRD region comprises the two SARs, Hong Kong and Macao, which are highly international, and nine provinces/regions which are rich in various factors of production, as well as being home to a number of Free Trade Zones. It has all along been a regional economic hinterland. The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will inject further impetus to the regional economic development of the PPRD provinces/regions." Mrs Lam pointed out that there were many Belt and Road strategic links in the PPRD region. She encouraged enterprises in the regions to tap on Hong Kong's financial and professional services, infrastructural as well as logistics support to participate in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to seizing the opportunities available.

     A thematic dialogue session "Bay Area x PPRD – Innovation and Empowerment, Synergy and Symbiosis" was held after the opening ceremony. At the session, Mrs Lam exchanged views with government leaders of the PPRD provinces/regions and other guests on the topics of co-operation and development in the PPRD region, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as opening up and innovation. At the session, Mrs Lam stressed that the present term of the HKSAR Government had assumed a proactive role, introduced new policy measures, put in timely investments and promoted economic development. She looked forward to identifying more collaboration opportunities with the PPRD provinces/regions.

     At the Chief Executive Joint Conference in the afternoon, Mrs Lam had an interactive discussion with government leaders of the PPRD provinces/regions on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the establishment of an express rail link economic belt in the PPRD region etc. At the conference, Mrs Lam said that the present term of the HKSAR Government strived to identify new engines for economic growth. Development of technology and innovation was one of the key areas. She was greatly encouraged to see the Central Government's staunch support in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international technology and innovation centre. She hoped that the strength of Hong Kong in technological research could contribute to the country's technological development. She welcomed the technological research institutes in the PPRD region establishing their presence in Hong Kong and providing internship opportunities for Hong Kong's young people, with a view to nurturing more talents. She also said that with the imminent commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and the competitive edge of Hong Kong's maritime services and aviation logistics, Hong Kong would continue to provide quality landbound, maritime as well as air services in the PPRD region. She would be pleased to join hands with the other provinces/regions to ride on Hong Kong's international network in taking forward external promotions together.

     During her stay in Guangzhou, Mrs Lam had bilateral meetings with the Governor of the Fujian Province, Mr Tang Dengjie, and the Governor of the Sichuan Province, Mr Yin Li, to discuss Hong Kong-Fuijian and Hong Kong-Sichuan co-operation respectively.

     The PPRD Forum, which is an important regional co-operation platform, covers nine provinces/regions (namely Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan) and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, accounting for more than one-third of the country's population and gross domestic product.

     Mrs Lam returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

Ends/Thursday, September 6, 2018
Issued at HKT 0:57

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