Chief Executive Carrie Lam met Hubei Governor Wang Xiaodong and Shandong Governor Gong Zheng at the Chief Executive's Office today.
Mrs Lam welcomed them to Hong Kong on their first official visits since assuming office.
Noting the Hubei Government has organised an annual event in Hong Kong to promote Hubei-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation since 2002, she wished every success for the event this year.
She also wished Mr Gong every success in hosting Hong Kong Shandong Week in Hong Kong.
Mrs Lam said Hong Kong and Hubei have close ties in economic and trade areas.
After the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in the third quarter of next year, the travel time by direct train between Wuhan and Hong Kong will be shortened to four-and-a-half hours, bringing an even closer relationship between the two places.
Regarding the close economic and trade relationship between Hong Kong and Shandong, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong is the preferred location outside Shandong for listing by enterprises from the province with its Tsingtao Brewery being one of the nine Mainland enterprises in the first-ever batch of such firms to be listed in Hong Kong in 1992.
There are now over 40 enterprises from Shandong listed in Hong Kong.
As a coastal and economically-vibrant province, Shandong holds an important role in the Belt & Road Initiative, Mrs Lam said, adding Hong Kong can provide the necessary support in respect of investment and financing as well as professional services for Shandong's participation in the initiative.
Mrs Lam encouraged the two provinces to continue making use of Hong Kong as the prime location for Mainland enterprises to go global and attract foreign capital to the nation.
