Chief Executive John Lee today attended the Shaanxi High-Quality Opening-up & Cooperation Conference in Hong Kong, where he witnessed the signing of the Strengthening Hong Kong/Shaanxi Co-operation Agreement.

Apart from stating that Shaanxi and Hong Kong have maintained close economic and trade relations over the years, Mr Lee pointed out that Hong Kong has always been Shaanxi's largest source of external investment.

Given that Shaanxi and Hong Kong are both important links in the Belt & Road Initiative, the Chief Executive emphasised that the two places can jointly play an important role in promoting domestic and international dual cycles and contribute to the country's high-level opening up to the outside world.

He added that Shaanxi and Hong Kong will further deepen co-operation, capitalise on their respective strengths to build new quality productive forces, and make greater contribution to the comprehensive promotion of Chinese modernisation to build a great country and achieve national rejuvenation.

Hong Kong and Shaanxi reached consensus on nine co-operation areas - the Belt & Road Initiative; finance; trade and investment; innovation and technology; legal and dispute resolution services; youth development; education; cultural exchanges; and facilitation measures for Hong Kong people on the Mainland.

Mr Lee and Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee Zhao Yide jointly witnessed the signing of the agreement covering these co-operation areas by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Shaanxi Provincial People's Government Vice Governor Chen Chunjiang.

In addition, government departments and organisations of the two places signed five co-operation agreements, covering trade, legal services, tourism, as well as innovation and technology.