SCED attends 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference in Ningbo (with photo)
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Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Yau said that right after the establishment of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism and the convening of the High-Level Meeting cum the First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference in April this year, the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference - Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum was held in Ningbo. He said he was very pleased to visit Ningbo again to further promote Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation.
Mr Yau said that Zhejiang is an economic powerhouse of the country with its GDP ranking among the top and has been a leading force in advancing the upgrading and transformation of industries and the development of new quality productive forces, especially in the areas of innovation and technology and artificial intelligence. On the other hand, Hong Kong, with its robust research capabilities, high level of internationalisation and extensive networks for international exchange and co-operation, presents vast potential in becoming a globally significant hub for education, technology and talent.
Mr Yau said that building on the foundation of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism, the two places will work together to promote collaboration in the field of professional services such as accounting and auditing, legal and dispute resolution, management consulting, intellectual property, industrial design, planning and design, architectural and related engineering services.
He added that in the areas of finance, Hong Kong boasts quality, efficient and internationalised financial institutions and financial services, as well as a deep and broad capital market, making it an ideal fundraising platform. Hong Kong is also the world's fifth-largest merchandise trading entity, after the Mainland, the United States, the European Union and Japan.
Mr Yau noted that despite uncertainties brought about by the ever-changing global trade landscape and geopolitics, Hong Kong's real GDP recorded a year-on-year increase of 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year. In the first half of this year, Hong Kong has completed 42 initial public offerings, raising over HK$107 billion, 20 per cent more than the full-year total for 2024. As at June this year, among the enterprises applying for listing in Hong Kong, 19 of them were from Zhejiang, accounting for about 10 per cent of the total number of applicants. This fully reflected that Hong Kong's robust financial market has become the prime listing platform for Mainland enterprises.
Mr Yau said he believes that with a solid foundation of economic and trade co-operation, Zhejiang and Hong Kong can jointly strengthen collaboration in modern professional services, attracting global investors to use Hong Kong as a springboard to tap into the immense potential of the enormous Zhejiang market, while enabling Zhejiang enterprises to go global by making use of Hong Kong's professional services.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; Deputy-Head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Mr Ma Lihuai; the Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Lian Yimin; and the Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People's Government, Mr Tang Feifan. The Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, also attended the opening ceremony. In addition, Mr Liu and Ms Cheong attended two thematic sessions to promote the synergistic development of the two places in areas such as port and maritime services, innovative applications and technological services.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong this evening.
Ends/Saturday, July 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:30
Issued at HKT 15:30
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