Li Jiachao met with Finance Minister Lan Foan to exchange views on the economic and financial development of the mainland and Hong Kong

China News Service, Hong Kong, October 21 (Xinhua) The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Lee Ka-chiu, met with the Minister of Finance, Mr Lam Fo-on, at Government House in Hong Kong on the 21st to exchange views on the economic and financial development of the mainland and Hong Kong.

On October 21, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Lee Ka-chiu (right), met with the Minister of Finance, Mr Lam Fo-on, at Government House, Hong Kong. (Photo courtesy of the Information Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government)

Li Jiachao welcomed and thanked Lan Fo'an for leading a delegation to Hong Kong to host the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting. He said that the Finance Ministers' Meeting is the last professional ministerial meeting before the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting to be held in Shenzhen in November this year, and it is of great significance in contributing to the results of APEC's "China Year" financial channels. The country serves as the host of APEC this year. This finance ministers' meeting is hosted by the Ministry of Finance and hosted by the Hong Kong SAR government for the first time. He sincerely thanked the country for its trust and support for Hong Kong and its high recognition of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center.

Li Jiachao said that Hong Kong actively uses the Finance Ministers' Meeting as an international exchange platform to demonstrate its unique advantages in internal and external communication and deepen economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with APEC members. Hong Kong will continue to play its role as a "super connector" and "super value-added person" to jointly promote regional economic cooperation, prosperity and stability.

Li Jiachao pointed out that the country’s “15th Five-Year Plan” supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial center. In September, the SAR government announced Hong Kong's first five-year plan and a new policy address, proactively aligning with the national development strategy, further developing RMB and commodity trading businesses, and consolidating Hong Kong's international competitive advantages. Hong Kong will continue to promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong as an international financial center, deepen connectivity with the mainland financial market, and serve the country's high-level financial opening up to the outside world.