The ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) is being held from today (November 5) to November 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum (Hongqiao Forum) and their related events today.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is involved in organising various events and led a record high of over 400 Hong Kong enterprises from various industries to participate in this year's CIIE to promote quality Hong Kong products and services, deepening international exchanges and co-operation, and telling the good stories of China and Hong Kong.

     In the morning, Mr Lee attended the opening ceremony of the CIIE and the Hongqiao Forum. Later, Mr Lee accompanied Vice Premier of the State Council Mr Ding Xuexiang in touring the Hong Kong Exhibition Area at the China Pavilion. Under the theme "Connectivity and Enterprise", the Hong Kong Exhibition Area showcased Hong Kong's continuous commitment to capitalising on its role as a bridge linking the country and the world, and Hong Kong's advantage of ranking among the world's top in multiple areas.

     Mr Lee attended the Hong Kong Parallel Session under the Hongqiao Forum in the afternoon. The Parallel Session was jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce. Mr Lee and the Minister of Commerce, Mr Wang Wentao, delivered remarks at the opening session and Vice Minister of Commerce Mr Yan Dong attended the Parallel Session. Under the theme "Aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Serving the National Development, and Seizing New Opportunities for Hong Kong", the Parallel Session attracted around 400 participants. Speaking at the Parallel Session, Mr Lee said that this was the first large-scale briefing session held at an international forum since the HKSAR Government announced Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, showcasing to the world Hong Kong's unique advantages of being strongly supported by the motherland and closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. Hong Kong will play its role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", strengthen the development of the "four centres and one hub", and consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre. At the same time, Hong Kong will go full steam ahead with the development of the Northern Metropolis, developing it into an international hub for high-calibre talent and a new engine to foster new quality productive forces, contributing Hong Kong's strength to better integrate into and serve the building of a great country.

     After the Hong Kong Parallel Session, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Professor Frederick Ma, visited the Enterprise and Business Exhibition and showed support to Hong Kong enterprises at the Hong Kong Food Pavilion and Hong Kong Services Pavilion set up by the HKTDC. Covering an area of over 1 600 square metres, the two pavilions featured 71 Hong Kong enterprises, with over 60 per cent exhibiting for the first time, showcasing quality Hong Kong products and services across food, innovation and technology (I&T), finance, professional services, logistics and transportation, etc. The two pavilions fully demonstrated the competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises and brands, and how Hong Kong, by leveraging its advantages in I&T, facilitated the effective connection of Mainland and international markets through quality products and services, thereby showcasing Hong Kong's role as a two-way platform for attracting foreign investment and for enterprises to go global.

     Invest Hong Kong also set up a booth at the Hong Kong Services Pavilion to highlight Hong Kong's advantages as a platform for enterprises going global and the comprehensive support services provided by the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global. The exhibition area of the Hong Kong Tourism Board showcased the latest tourism features of Hong Kong, demonstrating the vitality of Hong Kong as an international tourism hub.

     In the evening, Mr Lee hosted a networking dinner, exchanging views with political and business leaders from Hong Kong and the Mainland. He promoted Hong Kong's high-level professional services and I&T, and encouraged Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong to go global and expand their overseas markets, jointly seize the new opportunities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and contribute to the high-quality development of the country and Hong Kong.

     ​Mr Lee will continue his visit to Shanghai tomorrow (November 6) and return to Hong Kong after meeting with officials of Shanghai.

Ends/Thursday, November 5, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:13

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