Working with Foreign Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges and China International Contractors Association, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) held "China-Hong Kong Trade in Services Conference" on May 29 at the 5th China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which aimed at encouraging mainland enterprises to expand business opportunities for infrastructure along the "Belt and Road" by using professional service platform in Hong Kong.
Stephen Liang, assistant president of HKTDC, said in his speech at the conference that as an important initiative China contributes to the world, the "Belt and Road" has received active engagements from the countries along the route. The interconnection of infrastructure between countries is one of the priority directions of the "Belt and Road". With its geographical advantage, diverse financial infrastructure and service, complete legal system and international access, developed logistics and shipping system in addition to a wealth of experience in large-scale infrastructure project, Hong Kong can make solid contributions to the development of the "Belt and Road".
Stephen Liang said that Hong Kong will further assume the important role as a facilitator and promoter for the "Belt and Road" initiative with the arrangement of supporting Hong Kong's full participation and assistance with the "Belt and Road" signed by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and National Development and Reform Commission last year along with the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement. HKTDC will work in this new direction by holding more activities in mainland cities including exhibition, trade fair and business matching meeting, enabling more mainland enterprises to get to know Hong Kong service industry and cooperate on marching towards the global market.
At the conference, guests from Hong Kong enterprises such as MTR, ICBC Asia, Kerry Logistics, China Road & Bridge Corporation delivered speeches and exchanged ideas on how to effectively cooperate between mainland and Hong Kong enterprises on promoting the "Belt and Road" infrastructure construction and financing.
It was the fifth year for HKTDC to participate in CIFTIS with "Hong Kong exhibition area". With the theme of "all-round cooperation", this year's "Hong Kong exhibition area" presented the vitality of Hong Kong's economy alongside its frequent trade and business interaction with the world through a suspended curvilinear structure and a jumping LED light.
This year's "Hong Kong exhibition area" focused on introducing and promoting 7 categories of services to mainland enterprises, which were business opportunities along the "Belt and Road", financial services, professional services, logistics, fashion life, intellectual property rights and exhibition services.