​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (June 22) led a delegation to begin its visit programme to Fujian. He met with the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Zhou Zuyi, in Fuzhou and later attended the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference (meeting-and-plenary), jointly witnessing multiple co-operation outcomes between Hong Kong and Fujian.

     ​At the meeting with Mr Zhou, Mr Lee exchanged views on deepening Hong Kong-Fujian co-operation. He said that Fujian, as one of the country's forerunner provinces in reform and opening up, is an important part of the high-level open economy, with its digital industry developing rapidly. Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, and is an international financial, trade and shipping centre. In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook, Hong Kong rose one place to second globally. Hong Kong is also one of the key driving engines of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and is formulating at full speed its first Five-Year Plan, proactively integrating into and serving the overall national development. Hong Kong and Fujian are both important gateways for the country's high-level opening up, reflecting close economic and trade ties between the two places.

     ​Mr Lee said that Hong Kong has long been the largest source of external investment in Fujian. By the end of 2025, the cumulative number of Hong Kong-invested enterprises in Fujian exceeded 33 000. Currently, over 70 Fujian enterprises are listed in Hong Kong, demonstrating Hong Kong's fundraising advantages as an international financial centre and its connectivity to global investment opportunities. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has established the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to further support Mainland enterprises, including those from Fujian, through the cross-sectoral professional services platform in going global with Hong Kong as a springboard, attracting overseas capital, and working together to explore global business opportunities.

     ​Mr Lee subsequently attended the meeting-and-plenary and, together with Mr Zhou and the Governor of Fujian Province, Mr Zhao Long, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation at the meeting, establishing 11 key co-operation areas including finance; civil aviation, maritime transport and logistics; economic, trade and investment; innovation and technology; and legal and dispute resolution, as well as six co-operation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering culture and tourism, youth development, finance, economic and trade, and education.

     ​The HKSAR Government officials attending the meeting included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.

     ​Mr Lee said that since the establishment of the Hong Kong/Fujian Co-operation Conference mechanism in 2015, it has been an important platform for deepening exchanges and co-operation between the two places, yielding fruitful results. He said he was pleased to witness the further expansion and deepening of co-operation in multiple areas, promoting broader, deeper and further co-operation. Hong Kong will actively play its roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder". Mr Lee said he looks forward to the two places continuing to leverage their respective strengths, achieve complementary advantages, and contribute to the country's high-quality development.

     ​In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by Mr Zhou and later visited a local historical and cultural project, Sanfang Qixiang, which is a renowned historical and cultural block in China, with 15 buildings listed as national key protected cultural relic units. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is being developed into an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges and attaches great importance to the conservation and heritage of historical culture. He expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Fujian will continue to strengthen cultural and tourism co-operation and jointly promote fine traditional Chinese culture.

     ​Mr Lee will proceed to Nanping, Fujian, tomorrow (June 23) to continue his visit.

Ends/Monday, June 22, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:30

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