Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (Front, L) talks with the Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Hau Wah (Front, R) before a photo call during the Fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 10, 2009. The Fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum, which also comprises an economic and trade co-operation fair, is held from June 9 to 11 in Nanning. Representatives from China's Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces, and Hong Kong and Macao SARs on Wednesday delivered speeches on the further promotion of Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional co-operation and development, including dealing with the global financial crisis, establishing information co-operative alliance and speeding up the traffic connection in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will actively engage in economic cooperation with nine Chinese mainland provinces in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region (PPRD), the heads of both regions pledged Wednesday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang and Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah called for closer ties among the PPRD region to buoy the economic growth amid the global economic turmoil.

The Fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum is held in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Tsang said the Chinese mainland, especially the Pan-Pearl River Delta region -- comprising Guangdong, Yunnan, Fujian, Hainan, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macao -- provided vast investment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was among the largest investors in the mainland, with total investment of 349.5 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2008,accounting for 40 percent of the total foreign investment.

He said because of the global economic downturn, Hong Kong-based enterprises were keen to tap into the mainland, especially the market of the PPRD region with a population of more than 400 million.

Hong Kong would also encourage businesses to move to central and western China, and as a financial center, Hong Kong would continue to provide financial services for mainland enterprises, he said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang addresses the Fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

As of the end of April, a total of 470 enterprises from the mainland were listed in Hong Kong, said Tsang.

Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao would strengthen ties in finance, services, tourism, city planning, technology and infrastructure.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah said the impact of the global economic turmoil was widespread and deep, and cooperation was the only way out.

Regional cooperation would help push economy back on track, he said.

He also said Macao would continue to boost tourism and seek cooperation with other provinces in the PPRD in the sector.

Macao would build it into a platform for cooperation among PPRD, Association of South East Asian Nations and Portuguese-speaking countries.

They were speaking at the 5th PPRD Regional Economic Forum and Trade Fair in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Hau Wah (L) addresses the Fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Editor: 欧阳妍