Zhu Xiaodan, Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, met with a Hong Kong business delegation led by Mr. Henry Tang, Financial Secretary of HKSAR at the Garden Hotel on the morning of April 23rd.

In accordance with the policies set by the Central Government, said Zhu, Guangdong is to be the first province in China that opens its services sector for dealings with Hong Kong and Macau. As a result, the focus of economic cooperation between Guangzhou and Hong Kong will shift from the manufacturing to the service sector. So far, Guangzhou has taken looked at the development of the service sector as a pillar industry and looked forward to promoting cooperation with Hong Kong in areas such as modern logistics, financial insurance, information, sciences, conventions and exhibitions, innovation and services outsourcing. Moreover, Guangzhou will promote communication with businesses in Hong Kong and will conduct a new round of promotions, aiming at a closer cooperation with Hong Kong.

Henry Tang said that Hong Kong-based enterprises are expecting to cooperate with Guangzhou in the service sector, "Therefore", he said, "both Hong Kong and Guangzhou should work in concert to create a better environment for mutual cooperation." The implementation of the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta as well as the current global financial crisis provides an opportunity for Hong Kong to cooperate with Guangzhou. He also noted that he believes that the mutual cooperation will give rise to win-win situation.

Editor: Yan