Business partners: Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau and Malaysian Minister of International Trade & Industry Dato' Mustapa Mohamed sign a joint declaration on strengthening economic co-operation.

Hong Kong and Malaysia have signed a joint declaration on strengthening economic co-operation.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau and Malaysian Minister of International Trade & Industry Dato' Mustapa Mohamed signed the document in Geneva.

The declaration encourages and promotes two-way economic co-operation in trade in goods, trade in services, investment, science and technology, creative industry, small and medium enterprises development, and tourism.

It also covers co-operation between the two economies in areas of transparency of trade rules and regulations and furthering business opportunities in other markets, as well as technical assistance and capacity-building in areas of mutual interest.

Speaking at the signing ceremony that took place at the margins of the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, Mrs Lau said the signing of the declaration signifies the development of closer trade and economic ties between the two sides.