The first PPRD Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair, arousing the attention of media from home and abroad, held press conference this afternoon. Representatives from the "9+2" provinces/regions delegation make release '9+2' members' works and plans or advantages in firing up this biggest regional cooperation in China.

Statistics show that the Fair attracts some 543 journalists with 185 media from home and abroad.

The press conference is divided into two parts, say presentation part and question time.

In presentation parts representatives deliver short speeches on their province/region's work and plan or advantages in boosting regional cooperation within PPRD.

"Guangdong's investment in other provinces and regions will boost the further development of Guangdong." Says You Ningfeng, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province.

"Hong Kong would like to create a more open market for the region, such as simplifying the declaration procedure." Expresses John Tsang Chun-wah, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, HK

"We also want to make good use of the Hong Kong Airport, which has the highest throughput in the world." He adds.

"From the view of Sichuan, there are three key factors in the development of the whole region: 1) Communications and Transportation; 2) Complementary to each other; 3) an integrated, open and fair market environment." Says Yang Zhiwen, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province.

PPRD members have experienced close biz exchanges in the past years. Series of projects were signed and were running very well, says You, and during this fair, over 50 billion-yuan are invested in infrastructure construction, while another 50 billion-yuan involve in business and trade investment within the region.

"The operation of CEPA is satisfactory, with some 18 service industries open to the Chinese mainland. We are also discussing with the Commerce Ministry of China on deepening and broadening the exploitation of service industries, which is also satisfying," expresses Tsang from HK.

"The PPRD has strong vitality," says Yu Youjun, Vice Governor of Hunan Province, who has once worked in Guangdong for years, "For example, Guangdong needs to expand its market and upgrade its industrial structure, which will provide good opportunity for the provinces near Guangdong like Hunan."

"The development of Hunan also needs not only the development of manufacturing sector, but also cooperation in service industry with Hong Kong and Macao, including financial services, logistics services, trade services and all kinds of agency services." He adds.

"Hainan, as the unique tropical island province in China, has particular advantages in tourism resources. We will further exploitation in tourism resources by introducing experienced investors and tourism businesspersons to Hainan. The tourism resources between Hainan and other provinces and regions are actually complementary to each other, which brings great potentials of cooperation." Expresses Li Lihui, Vice Governor of Hainan Province.

He adds, "Moreover, a better transport system is needed. Besides the development of air transportation, we should also further develop railways, highways and ocean transport to strengthen the exploitation of world tourism market"

>>Click into presentation part of the press conference

>>Click into Review of the first PPRD Regional Development and Cooperation Forum

Editor: Catherine