ALGERNON YAU VISITS XINJIANG

Leading a business delegation to visit Urumqi, Xinjiang, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau today met CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee Secretary Ma Xingrui in Urumqi.

He also met Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Chairman Erkin Tuniyaz, and Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin.

The day’s meetings aimed to exchange views on promoting economic and trade co-operation among the three places, with a view to jointly exploring the full range of opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr Yau noted that Kazakhstan is a hub connecting Europe and Asia, while Xinjiang serves as a key link for the Silk Road on land, whereas Hong Kong is the premier gateway to the Mainland market. By strengthening exchanges and co-operation, the three places will be able to achieve complementarity for greater benefits, contributing to the prosperity of the Belt & Road regions.

He said over the past decade, the trade value between Hong Kong and Belt & Road economies other than Mainland China has increased by nearly 60%, demonstrating that the Belt & Road Initiative has been creating more opportunities for Hong Kong, and has become a new driving force for the city’s economic growth.

He pointed out that Hong Kong is ranked the world’s freest economy and serves as the country’s gateway to the world and the functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to support enterprises and professional services in exploring global markets and business opportunities along the Belt & Road, as well as assist Belt-Road countries and regions to enhance professional capacities and promote people-to-people bonds, Mr Yau added.

He also held bilateral meetings with Mr Tuniyaz and Mr Zhumangarin to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Commissioner for Belt & Road Nicholas Ho and other members of the delegation attended a co-operation and exchange forum between China (Xinjiang, Hong Kong) and Kazakhstan today to promote Hong Kong’s advantages as well as the economic and trade co-operation and people-to-people exchanges among the three places.

After arriving yesterday, Mr Yau visited the exhibition centre of textile and geographical indication products of Urumqi, to learn about the development of local specialty products.

He then had dinner with representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Xinjiang to keep abreast of their business operations and the latest economic developments in the region.

Mr Yau will lead the delegation to visit local enterprises tomorrow to gain an understanding of the development of the related industries before returning to Hong Kong.

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