FS wraps up Beijing visit

Financial Secretary Paul Chan concluded his visit to Beijing today by calling on the leadership of various central authorities related to finance and financial services.

Mr Chan met Office of the Central Commission for Financial & Economic Affairs Deputy Director in charge of routine work and Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group Director Han Wenxiu; People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng; China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing and State Taxation Administration Director Hu Jinglin.

During the meetings, the Financial Secretary introduced Hong Kong’s latest economic and financial situation, in addition to highlighting the city's work and progress in safeguarding financial security as well as promoting sustainable development in the fields of finance.

They also discussed various issues, including implementing measures to deepen mutual access between the Mainland and Hong Kong financial markets, promoting renminbi internationalisation in a steady, orderly and sound manner, promoting financial co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, strengthening financial regulation and tax co-operation, and more.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan also met Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Wang Xiaoping. They exchanged views on how Hong Kong's capital market could promote the development of pension finance on the Mainland, and enhancing co-operation in such areas as talent flow and youth development between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The finance chief led a delegation comprising major officials in charge of the financial system to visit Beijing.

Concluding the visit, Mr Chan said calling on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong has deepened the delegation's understanding of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session, enabling them better plan and promote the work of advancing the city's economic development and prosperity.

During the meetings with finance-related central authorities to promote closer working relationships, they discussed the enhancement of financial and economic co-operation between the two places, and explored specific measures that would benefit the high-quality opening up of the country’s financial markets and promote the development of Hong Kong's financial services.

Mr Chan said he hoped to expedite the implementation of various measures with relevant Mainland organisations.

Under the staunch support of the country and the leadership of the Chief Executive, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will do its best to implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee through solid work, he noted.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will strive for innovations and embrace changes amid the complex and volatile environment, promote better integration into the overall development of the country, and align with national development strategies.

It will also strive to reinforce and enhance the status of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, and expedite the development of new quality productive forces, so as to make new and greater contributions to the Chinese Path to Modernisation, and achieve higher quality development for Hong Kong, he added.