The Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, attended the 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference and a thematic forum on port and maritime services in Ningbo, Zhejiang, today (July 26) to deepen co-operation between Zhejiang and Hong Kong in high-end maritime services.

     The 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference, themed "Innovation and integration for development, advancing modernisation together", was held this morning. The conference brought together government officials, industry leaders and representatives of professional organisations from Zhejiang and Hong Kong to foster collaboration between the two places in various professional fields, including technology, finance and maritime services, facilitating in-depth integration of technological and industrial innovation to contribute to the country's modernisation.

     Four thematic forums were held in the afternoon. Speaking at the thematic forum on port and maritime services, Mr Liu said that both Zhejiang and Hong Kong are important shipping hubs of the country. As an international shipping centre ranking the fourth globally, Hong Kong has a highly open shipping market, a unique and bilingual common law system, and an internationalised professional service network. The joint development of Zhejiang and Hong Kong would further contribute to the country's strategic goal of developing into a strong maritime nation. He also listed out a series of recent breakthroughs in Hong Kong's high-end maritime services and green maritime transformation under the policy support of the country as well as the concerted effort of the industry and the Government. These include the recent outstanding achievements of the fleet of Hong Kong-registered ships in the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme; the 10 per cent increase in the number of port and maritime service companies in Hong Kong compared to five years ago; as well as the completion of several green fuel-bunkering operations in Hong Kong. He encouraged Zhejiang enterprises to consider making use of Hong Kong's highly internationalised and top-quality maritime services as an ideal springboard for entering the international market to collaboratively contribute to the high-quality development of the country's maritime industry.

     At the thematic forum on port and maritime services, representatives of industry organisations and enterprises from both Zhejiang and Hong Kong shared insights and engaged in discussions on key topics, such as ship finance, green maritime transition and maritime law and arbitration. They explored collaboration opportunities to jointly enhance Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre and strengthen the integrated service capacity of the Ningbo Zhoushan Port.

     Mr Liu will visit the Chuanshan Port Area, the Ningbo Zhoushan Port, and the exhibition gallery of the Ningbo Area, China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, tomorrow (July 27), to discuss experiences of container terminal operations and intermodal transport developments. He will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Ends/Saturday, July 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:35

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