The Zhitong Finance App learned that on November 5, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Li Jiachao attended the Hong Kong Sub-Forum of the 9th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai. In his speech, he pointed out that Hong Kong's “circle of friends” is expanding, and Hong Kong's economic and trade network is not a one-way channel, but a multi-directional hub. Hong Kong has become the fifth largest commodity trading economy in the world, signing free trade agreements with 21 economies and investment agreements with 34 economies. The SAR government will continue to expand international economic and trade networks and play a greater role in the country's high-level opening-up to the outside world. In addition to strengthening ties with traditional markets, Hong Kong will actively explore opportunities in emerging markets, focus on developing promising economies, and participate deeply in high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Referring to Hong Kong's advantages and development direction, Li Jiachao said that finance is Hong Kong's fundamental and greatest advantage, and Hong Kong's international financial center must show its international position. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, Hong Kong will continue to strengthen its position as the world's largest offshore RMB business hub, further enhance the offshore RMB market's ability to support the real economy, and comprehensively enhance support for trade, investment and financing, and cross-border business.
He said that Hong Kong will focus on the stock and bond markets, enhance the depth, breadth and liquidity of the market, and assist mainland enterprises to go out and bring in international capital. At the same time, Hong Kong will make good use of the “financial +” strategy, use finance to empower the real economy, actively build a commodity and gold trading ecosystem, technological innovation, green development, etc., and serve the country's financial strength.
In terms of international shipping centers and international aviation hubs, the upgrading and transformation of Hong Kong from a “large tonnage port” to a “value port” will be guided by “stabilizing container volume, increasing value, and strengthening collaboration”. At the same time, it will accelerate the development of the modern shipping service industry, build a diversified and resilient international transportation channel system, promote the healthy and orderly development of international air cargo and the low-altitude economy, accelerate the promotion of sea-air linkage, and comprehensively enhance Hong Kong's role as a hub in the country's modern transportation network.
In terms of innovation and technology, Li Jiachao said that during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, Hong Kong will be more proactive and more closely aligned with the national science and technology strategy. At the upstream scientific research level, it will target the country's strategic science and technology fields and strengthen research on key core technologies in order to achieve breakthroughs in scientific research in the field of the country's core needs. In terms of downstream industries, it will accelerate the development of the country's strategic emerging industries, connect with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area industry, create a deep collaboration model of “high-end R&D - advanced manufacturing - modern service”, and contribute Hong Kong's strength to the construction of the country's modern industrial system.
As for Beidu, he described it as having entered the construction phase at full speed. The Hong Kong Government will accelerate the promotion of innovative and diversified development, introduce industries, develop Beidu into an important strategic vehicle for high-level post-secondary education, the integration of innovation and technology industries, and the gathering of high-end international talents, and become a new engine for building Hong Kong's new quality of productivity.
Li Jiachao summed up that the country is embarking on a new “15th Five-Year Plan” journey, and Hong Kong stands at a new starting point in the “15th Five-Year Plan.” The blueprint has been drawn, and the time is right to move forward. The “15th Five-Year Plan” period is a critical period for Hong Kong to take the initiative to ride the waves of the times. Hong Kong will give full play to the advantages of internal and external communication under “one country, two systems”, play a good role as a “super contact” and “super value-added person”, consolidate and enhance its existing advantages, stimulate innovation momentum, and contribute Hong Kong's strength to integration and service the construction of a strong country while achieving its own high-quality development.