Chen Zuoer, Deputy Director, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council

Chen Zuoer, Deputy Director, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, manifests that PPRD is to enhance Hong Kong and Macao's special position in State's development strategy and to promote the long-term prosperity and development of the SARs.

He says, Hong Kong and Macao maintain much economic ties with mainland and is benefited from the rapid economic development of mainland and experience unprecedented prosperous and development. After the reunification of Hong Kong and Macao to mainland, central government and SAR governments overcome the Asian finance crises. In order to give a hand to SARs in their economic recovery and revive, Central government put forward a series of measures, specially the signing and implementation of CEPA.

And the launching of PPRD regional cooperation is an important strategy in realizing the economic interactivity of eastern, central and western parts of China. It will not only sharpen the competitive edge of the involved provinces/regions of mainland but also enhance Hong Kong and Macao's unique position in State's development strategy as well as to promote the long-term prosperity and development of the two SARs.

Chen manifests, the policy 'One Country, Two System' shall be respected in regional cooperation. At the same time, for Hong Kong and Macao are independent WTO members, the cooperation between mainland and Hong Kong, Macao shall keep in line with international practice and WTO treaties.

Enhancing the economic cooperation between mainland and Hong Kong, Macao will bring much more new business opportunities to the two SARs, Chen says, through cooperation, Hong Kong sees economic rebound in 2003 with a growth rate 3.3%, and it is estimated to reach 6% this year, while Macao is up 15.6%, and will continue to growth this year.

The regional economic cooperation meets the need for the further opening up of mainland. Through cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao, the nine mainland provinces/regions will gain new impetus in their economic construction.

The implementation of CEPA leads to a convenient flow of labor, goods, capital and information between mainland and Hong Kong, Macao, and the PPRD regional cooperation and development which kicks off today will tighten ties of the members in the region.

The regional cooperation and implementation of CEPA shall be in line with 'One country, two systems', stresses Chen.

Editor: Catherine