Chief Executive John Lee met CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Secretary Meng Fanli at Government House today to exchange views on further deepening Hong Kong's co-operation with Shenzhen and promoting the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Lee welcomed Mr Meng's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation.

He said that the relationship between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has always been close, with frequent flows of people. Under the Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation mechanism, the two places have set up various working groups to promote collaboration in a wide range of key areas including the Northern Metropolis, innovation and technology, finance, commerce and trade, youth employment and entrepreneurship, and Qianhai.

The Chief Executive noted that the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen have been making steady progress in various areas to propel the co-operation of the two places to new heights.

Mr Lee also pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government jointly held the first meeting of Task Force on the Development of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone in early February this year to exchange views on promoting and implementing the Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone more effectively.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to actively maintain close communication with the Shenzhen Municipal Government and enhance collaboration to jointly promote the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area, he added.

The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone lies at the convergence of the Northern Metropolis and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen innovation and technology corridor, and is one of the major platforms for co-operation in the bay area under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

Noting that the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park will soon enter its operational phase, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will continue to work closely with Shenzhen to leverage the advantages of “one zone, two parks” under the “one country, two systems” principle in the co-operation zone to create new quality productive forces at a faster pace.

Mr Lee also stated that Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on its advantages in basic scientific research, finance, talent and professional services, and internationalisation, with a view to playing its crucial role in leading the development of the bay area, and implementing the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits with Shenzhen to make greater contributions to the country's development.