Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau met various national officials today as he began a visit to Beijing.

Mr Yau called this morning on the China National Intellectual Property Administration, where he met Deputy Commissioner Zhang Zhicheng to discuss deepening co-operation and exchanges in the field of intellectual property (IP).

Mr Yau said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to protecting IP rights and promoting IP trading, with a view to developing Hong Kong into a regional IP trading centre. He said this ambition gives play to the city’s unique advantage of being connected both to the Mainland and the world, while also driving the development of new quality productive forces in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

In the afternoon, Mr Yau paid visits to Director-General of the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Fan Shijie and Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs Ran Bo. He briefed them on trade and economic developments in Hong Kong and held discussions with them on the new global political and economic landscape.

The commerce chief said that in the face of uncertainties brought about by geopolitical factors, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages under “one country, two systems” to actively expand economic and trade networks and step up efforts to attract enterprises and investment, including through exploring emerging markets along the Belt & Road.

He added that as the most international city in the GBA, Hong Kong will deepen international exchanges and co-operation to build influence and competitiveness, thereby contributing to the country’s high-quality development.