STL visits Chongqing (with photos)
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Ms Chan and her delegation met with Vice Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People's Government Mr Zheng Xiangdong and other officials today (June 6) and reported the latest logistics developments in Hong Kong. They also had a discussion on further deepening co-operation in areas such as intermodal cargo transshipment and building Chongqing-Hong Kong logistics corridor under the establishment of the Hong Kong/Chongqing Co-operation Conference Mechanism, with a view to leveraging the strengths of the two hubs and serving the country's needs.
The delegation also inspected the operations of high-speed rail freight services to gain insights into how Chongqing leverages its railway transport system, complemented by intermodal cargo transshipment modes such as air and sea transport, to enhance the overall rail freight service capacity. The delegation also met with representatives of local logistics and transportation enterprises to further explore collaboration opportunities between the two places.
Ms Chan said that Hong Kong has long been Chongqing's largest source of external investment, accounting for over 60 per cent of Chongqing's actual foreign capital utilisation. On the trade front, Hong Kong is Chongqing's second-largest trading partner, with the total value of imports and exports between the two cities reaching $57.5 billion in 2024, ranking first among Western provinces in terms of trade value. As an international aviation hub and maritime centre, Hong Kong is renowned for its high efficiency and fast customs clearance. Coupled with its professional strengths in talent, infrastructure and technology in handling diverse cargoes, Hong Kong can better serve Chongqing, a key manufacturing base of the country, by providing an efficient export channel for local goods.
Ms Chan and her delegation began their visit to Chongqing yesterday (June 5). They attended the Hong Kong-Chongqing logistics sector co-operation seminar, organised by the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and highlighted Hong Kong's advantages in logistics and transport to the local logistics sector. She expressed hope that Hong Kong and Chongqing can enhance collaboration by fostering strong alliance and complementing each other, to move forward together under the new international trade environment.
Ms Chan said, "The development between Hong Kong and Chongqing is gaining good momentum. Following the establishment of the Hong Kong/Chongqing Co-operation Conference Mechanism in 2023, closer ties in various aspects, including trade and logistics, have been maintained. Seizing the opportunities, initiatives such as the launch of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled rail-sea service last year and the Chongqing-Qinzhou-Hong Kong sea-rail intermodal service this year are the outcomes of co-operation achieved between the logistics sectors of both places. As China's most internationalised city, Hong Kong possesses the advantage of being 'part of China but outside the Mainland'. Amidst the evolving international trade landscape with impacts of uncertain factors such as tariffs, Hong Kong can offer greater flexibility for Mainland cargo owners and logistics providers, making it the best choice for cargo transshipment between the Mainland and overseas."
Yesterday afternoon, Ms Chan and her delegation met with representatives of local shipping enterprises and had a discussion on enhancing the maritime ties between Hong Kong and Chongqing. They also toured the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park to learn about its operation. The delegation also had a meeting with Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government Ms Zhang Yaqian to exchange views on how to facilitate exchanges and collaborations between Hong Kong and Chongqing in logistics and transport.
Ms Chan concluded her visit this afternoon and will return to Hong Kong this evening.
Ends/Friday, June 6, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:48
Issued at HKT 17:48
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