Witnessed by President Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Mr He Lifeng; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mrs Carrie Lam; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), Mr Chui Sai-on, representing the NDRC, the HKSAR Government, the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the MSAR Government respectively, signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area in Hong Kong today (July 1).
The Framework Agreement provides that the objective of cooperation is to implement the principle of "one country, two systems" fully and accurately, improve and innovate the cooperation mechanism, establish a mutually complementary cooperation relationship, and jointly take forward the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. The Framework Agreement also sets out the goals and principles of cooperation. In addition, the Framework Agreement establishes the key cooperation areas in the development of the Bay Area, including promoting infrastructure connectivity; enhancing the level of market integration; building a global technology and innovation hub; building a system of modern industries through coordinated development; jointly building a quality living circle to provide an ideal place for living, working and travelling; cultivating new strengths in international cooperation; and supporting the establishment of major cooperation platforms. The four signatories to the Framework Agreement agree to improve the coordination mechanism and convene annual consultation meetings to coordinate and resolve major problems and issues of cooperation arising from the development of the Bay Area. The four parties will also put forward annual work plans for taking forward the development of the Bay Area, and deliver a concerted effort in their implementation once a consensus has been reached amongst the four parties and relevant Mainland authorities.
The Framework Agreement signifies an important milestone in formulating the development plan for the Bay Area. The cooperation goals of the Framework Agreement include consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, transportation and trade centre; strengthening its status as a global offshore Renminbi business hub and an international asset management centre; promoting the development of Hong Kong's professional services and innovation and technology industries; and establishing a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific Region. The HKSAR Government will, in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems", continue to join hands with the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the MSAR Government to take forward the development planning for the Bay Area led by the NDRC.
In the 2017 Report on the Work of the Government, Premier Li Keqiang explicitly expressed the need to promote closer cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, draw up a development plan for a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, give full play to the distinctive strengths of Hong Kong and Macao, and elevate their positions and roles in the nation's economic development and opening up. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area city cluster covers the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as nine cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.
Ends/Saturday, July 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:52
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The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam (front row, second right), today (July 1) signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area with the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr He Lifeng (front row, second left); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (front row, first left); and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on (front row, first right). This was witnessed by President Xi Jinping (back row, centre); State Councillor Mr Yang Jiechi (back row, second left); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung (back row, second right); the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya (back row, first left); and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhang Xiaoming (back row, first right).
President Xi Jinping (centre) is pictured with (from left) the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr He Lifeng; State Councillor Mr Yang Jiechi; Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on; and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, at the Signing Ceremony of the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area today (July 1).
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