​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (April 14) met with Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Mr Wang Yong and the Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Chair of the World Internet Conference (WIC), Mr Zhuang Rongwen, respectively. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to them for serving as guest speakers at the 2025 WIC Asia-Pacific Summit, organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB), and exchanged views with the officials on issues of mutual concern. It is the first time the WIC has held a summit outside Mainland China, affirming Hong Kong's status as an international metropolis and demonstrating its support for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development.
      
     This morning, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, met with Mr Wang. Mr Lee noted that the third session of the 14th National People's Congress was successfully convened in Beijing last month. A Government work report proposed to develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions and pursue integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation. The HKSAR Government is actively developing new quality productive forces and new industrialisation initiatives, with the innovation and technology industry expected to achieve high-quality development. It is also accelerating the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, striving to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages in connecting the Mainland with the world, further deepening international exchanges and co-operation, and exploring new opportunities in innovation and technology.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, met with Mr Zhuang. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the CAC for its continued support to the HKSAR Government and its collaboration with the ITIB in promoting cross-border data flows within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Noting that data is a key driving force of innovation and high-quality development, Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with the CAC to facilitate Hong Kong's active integration into the national data development and the digital economy development in the GBA.
      
     The WIC Asia-Pacific Summit is being held today and tomorrow (April 15) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme of "Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future - Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace". The summit brings together representatives from governments and enterprises, international organisations, leading corporations, experts and scholars from home and abroad to engage in in-depth exchanges on various technological areas, promoting the high-quality development of innovation and technology.

Ends/Monday, April 14, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:15

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