The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (February 26) held a seminar to promote the Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone (Qianhai Overall Development Plan) at the Central Government Offices. The Director General of the Department of Regional Economy of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Mr Wu Shulin, was the keynote speaker and delivered a thematic presentation on "Shouldering the mission and forging ahead to open up new horizons for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone (Qianhai Co-operation Zone)". Representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and Shenzhen Municipal Government were also present. Hong Kong Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and Hong Kong Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as well as relevant HKSAR Government officials attended the seminar and learned about embracing the requirements and objectives of the Central Government in regard to the Qianhai Overall Development Plan, and had exchange with the delegation of the NDRC on how to resolutely uphold the Central Government's strategic decisions on Qianhai development. 

The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a national strategy personally devised, personally planned and personally driven by President Xi Jinping. Qianhai is one of the major co-operation platforms in the GBA. President Xi emphasises high-quality co-ordinated regional development, and shows care for Qianhai's development and opening up. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, he has visited Qianhai three times, personally steering the reform and development of Qianhai.
         
The Central Government promulgated the Qianhai Overall Development Plan in end last year, serving the purpose for achieving full implementation of President Xi's earnest expectations and strategic planning on Qianhai. The Qianhai Overall Development Plan provides a comprehensive view of the strategic positioning, development objectives, spatial layout, industry planning, business environment, urban planning, quality living environment, and governance model of the Qianhai Co-operation Zone, among other things. Its objective is to promote the demonstrative and leading roles Qianhai plays in the development of the GBA, further deepening the collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen held a meeting of the Task Force on the Development of the Qianhai Co-operation Zone on February 6 this year in Shenzhen. At the meeting, both sides remarked that they would press ahead at full steam for promoting the demonstrative and leading roles Qianhai plays in the development of the GBA, further deepening the collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, maintaining close collaboration with relevant central ministries and commissions, and enhancing the publicity and briefing work on the policy content of the Qianhai Overall Development Plan.

At the seminar, Mr Wu Shulin focused on studying and upholding President Xi's important steer on Qianhai's development, profoundly explained the significance of promoting Qianhai's development and opening up, and comprehensively analysed the situation facing Qianhai's development. Following closely the overall requirements of full implementation of the Qianhai Overall Development Plan, with important missions including to facilitate Guangdong-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation and to expand the scope of development of Hong Kong, Mr Wu also systematically elaborated various specific measures on industry development, business environment, urban development, public services, and institutional mechanisms and so forth.

Mr Wu said, "As the next step, the NDRC will fulfill the responsibilities of the Central Regional Coordination Development Leading Group Office and work with relevant central ministries and commissions to fully support Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipality to, by leveraging the Plan for Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Co-operation Zone and the Qianhai Overall Development Plan, deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on all fronts, so as to make new contributions to promoting Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and better integration into the overall development of the country."

In his speech delivered at the seminar, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, said, "The HKSAR Government welcomes and is grateful for the Central Government's promulgation of the Qianhai Overall Development Plan. The Qianhai Overall Development Plan has a significant bearing on not only the high-level development of Qianhai and the GBA, but also the country's continued deepening reform and opening up and high-quality development in a comprehensive manner. It also supports the HKSAR in enriching the practice of 'one country, two systems' which will in turn provide vital guidance and set a direction for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability."

Mr Tsang also remarked that, "The Qianhai Co-operation Zone serves as an important platform for the opening up of the Mainland market by industries in which Hong Kong's strengths lie, and a key gateway for Mainland enterprises to attract foreign investment and to go global by expanding their overseas market through Hong Kong. Hong Kong will be able to consolidate and enhance its status as international finance, maritime and trade centres, as well as an international aviation hub, with a view to supporting its social and economic development. Hong Kong will continue to support Qianhai in trying out new policies on a pilot basis and pursuing more policy innovation and breakthroughs, with a view to spreading the successful policies to the rest of the GBA and even the entire country, and making greater contributions to the further reform and opening up of the country. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. As the country embarks on its new journey of building a great modern country in all respects through a Chinese path to modernisation and in advancing great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the GBA is flourishing and presented with unlimited opportunities. The HKSAR Government will continue to take proactive steps and work together with other cities of the GBA to, under the principle of complementarity, deepen collaborations and strive to resolve each and every difficulty and bottleneck, thereby turning barriers into bridges and smoothening the process of development. We will also introduce more policy measures to foster the flow of people, goods, capital and information, enabling local and overseas talents and enterprises, as well as members of the general public, to seize and embrace the unlimited opportunities brought about by the GBA. Meanwhile, we will support other cities of the GBA to tap into global markets through the international platform of Hong Kong, fully leveraging Hong Kong's dual roles in 'going global and attracting foreign investment' and making good use of Hong Kong's strengths to contribute to the needs of the country."

     Hong Kong Deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong Members of the National Committee of the CPPCC represent broadly all sectors of the community. Mr Tsang encouraged participants to join hands and appeal to different sectors to proactively take forward the development the Qianhai Co-operation Zone and the GBA, through their extensive network and influence, with a view to facilitating Hong Kong's better integration into the overall development of the country, providing new and greater contributions to the development of Qianhai as well as the high-quality development of the country.