China News Service, Hong Kong, June 17 (Reporter Liu Chenyao) Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended and delivered a speech on the 17th at the 2021 China Business Summit Forum.
She pointed out that at present, the SAR government is actively promoting the development of business in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones built by Hong Kong companies in the Mainland, and has selected five cooperation zones in ASEAN member states as pilot projects to encourage Hong Kong companies to make good use of these cooperation zones to develop their business. , And plans to organize overseas business and professional inspections after the epidemic is stabilized, and hope that the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce will support relevant companies and chambers of commerce in Hong Kong by then.
Carrie Lam said that in the past two centuries, many Chinese from the Greater Bay Area emigrated overseas, formed communities in foreign countries, gradually established contacts there, and were familiar with the laws, customs, culture and market conditions in the places where they moved.
With the country’s reform and opening up and the rapid economic development, the number of overseas Chinese has become more numerous. It is now spread all over the world. According to statistics, the total number of overseas Chinese has exceeded 60 million. Especially in Southeast Asian countries, there are as many as 40 million Chinese. "An important force for construction.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor pointed out that in the past social and economic development in Hong Kong, various sectors of society have established friendly relations with many overseas Chinese communities and Chinese business organizations, forming a network, which has played a positive role in promoting local economic and social development, and has also become a foreign partner. A bridge for China's exchanges.
Due to historical and geographic reasons, Hong Kong has always been a part of this bridge. It has close ties with overseas Chinese, while domestically, it contributes to the motherland through the overseas Chinese network.
She revealed that in the future, the SAR government will continue to increase contacts and collaborations with Chinese businessmen from all over the world, work with overseas trading partners to promote the construction of the “Belt and Road”, and play Hong Kong's role as a unique gateway, springboard and intermediary.
At the regional level, Carrie Lam believes that Hong Kong's participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) can bring multiple benefits to the regional economy.
She introduced that Hong Kong is the main source of investment in the Asia-Pacific region, among which RCEP member economies are also the main destination for Hong Kong's outward investment, accounting for more than 50% of Hong Kong's total outward direct investment in 2019.
After joining the RCEP, Hong Kong can enjoy various convenience measures and legal protections under the agreement, which will help attract more Hong Kong companies to invest in RCEP member economies and promote the development of investment and related construction in the region.
She hopes that the business community, especially companies in RCEP member economies, will strongly support Hong Kong's participation in RCEP and share with the local political and business circles the benefits of Hong Kong's early accession to RCEP for the local and the entire regional economy.
"By forming a consensus in support of Hong Kong's participation in RCEP, we hope to create favorable conditions and strive for Hong Kong's participation in RCEP."
Carrie Lam said that with the support of global Chinese businessmen, Hong Kong can connect with the Greater Bay Area and radiate the "Belt and Road" as the theme of the forum.
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