HK, Shenzhen forge closer links
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-18 13:43

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government signed in Hong Kong Thursday with the government of its neighboring Shenzhen City a memorandum on enhancing bilateral cooperation, drafting the guidelines for launching future cooperation programs between the two places.

Describing the memo a "milestone" for HK-Shenzhen cooperation process, Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong said the memo and the eight other agreements on HK-Shenzhen cooperation signed here Thursday indicated a leap forward to HK-Shenzhen bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Pan-Pearl River Delta regional cooperation and Hong Kong-Guangdong cooperation.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Donald Tsang told the press after the memo signing ceremony that "the most important outcome has been the setting up of direct communication channels for both sides within the framework of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference."

Shenzhen and Hong Kong reached a consensus on the principle of closer cooperation, as evidenced by the memorandum. To pursue long- term economic prosperity for both sides, Hong Kong will continue to give play to its strengths as an international service center with a superior business environment; and the position of the Greater Pearl River Delta will be enhanced to that of a key world manufacturing base.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen will be the foothold for Hong Kong to develop its economic hinterland. Hong Kong's status as an international commercial, financial and logistics and shipping center will be enhanced through Shenzhen.

Tsang said, "Today's meeting speaks of both sides' willingness to strengthen co-operation. Our aim is to complement each other to gain mutual benefits and prosperity. Our co-operation is comprehensive, multifarious and pragmatic."

During the meeting between Li Hongzhong and Hong Kong Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, the two sides agreed that they should push ahead with the bilateral cooperation to higher and more extensive levels and that there is still great potential to tap.

According to the memo and the eight agreements, both sides will expedite the implementation of appropriate measures in Hong Kong and Shenzhen under the framework of CEPA (Chinese mainland-Hong Kong Close Economic Partnership Arrangement) to accumulate necessary experience for the full implementation of CEPA in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Both sides will continue to take forward the development of control points and cross-boundary infrastructure projects to further improve transport facilities and operational efficiency at control points. Both sides will endeavor to step up cooperation in trade and commerce.

Shenzhen has agreed to allow Hong Kong investors to invest, develop, operate and manage its infrastructure, public utilities and other projects. The city will facilitate the entry of Hong Kong's professional services such as design, management, advisory, assessment legal and accounting services.

The two sides will step up the synergetic pooling of logistics resources such as ports and airports in order to strengthen the Pan-PRD regional logistics system with Hong Kong as the core for linking with the global market and the rest of the Chinese mainland.

Cooperation between Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Park and Hong Kong Cyberport will also be promoted.

The two sides agreed to step up visits and exchanges between travel agents in the two places to facilitate joint tourism promotion.

Both sides will forge closer ties in ecological and environmental protection by making joint efforts in monitoring air and marine pollution and making timely exchanges of information on ecological and environmental protection.

Li Hongzhong came to Hong Kong Wednesday. This is his first visit to Hong Kong since he took up the post as Shenzhen mayor in February 2004.

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