Growing Cooperation between Chongqing,Hong Kong and Macao

□ Article/ Journalist Yang Yan Tr. by Lei Jing

Growing Cooperation between Chongqing,Hong Kong and Macao

□ Article/ Journalist Yang Yan Tr. by Lei Jing

Cooperation between Chongqing and Hong Kong in recent years has yielded fruitful results. Going forward, the two parties will work together in many more sectors, such as fi nance, commerce, real estate, manufacturing, logistics and modern services. Against the background, representatives of government agencies and businesses from Hong Kong and Macao came to Chongqing seeking business cooperation. By attending forums and business affairs and making visits, they hoped to communicate and cooperate with Chongqing enterprises, making the best use of their individual resources and market advantages.

New Growth Through Economic and Trade Cooperation

In recent years, Chongqing and Hong Kong made increasing efforts in innovative development, which was effective and productive.In April 2013, an economic and trade delegation from Chongqing went to Hong Kong attracting investment. On April 15, 35 contracts to a total amount of 12.963 billion US dollars were signed in the Promotion and Signing Ceremony of Chongqing-Hong Kong Trade and Economic Cooperation held in Hong Kong. These contracts covered a wide range of areas, including land development,fi nance, industry, logistics, commerce and trade. Meanwhile, they signed contracts to collaborate on projects of clocks and watches manufacturing and precision finishing, which was helpful for Chongqing to develop the industrial chain and group of “big clocks and watches”.

On September 26, Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, and a delegation came to Chongqing for economic and trade exchanges. He was present at the Signing Ceremony of Chongqing-Hong Kong Cooperation and the Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Industrial Park. His participation in Chongqing-Hong Kong Trade and Economic Conference and Forum promoted cooperation between the two cities, which led to a series of consensuses on deepening pragmatic cooperation. A batch of projects were signed, including the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Hong Kong Industrial Park of Hong Kong City in Chongqing, the Central Park Project of Hong Kong Land Holdings Limited, the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong Jewelry Industry Base Entering Hong Kong Industrial Park in Chongqing and the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between China Railway Express (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd. and Hong Kong Yantian International Container Terminal Co., Ltd.

On January 2015, Wu Ziheng, general representative of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in mainland China,and his party came to visit the Chongqing Commerce Commission for the promotion of trade cooperation between Chongqing and Hong Kong. In June, the Forum for Chongqing and Hong Kong Cooperation to Expand International Markets was held in Chongqing, on which Fang Shunwen, president of HKTDC,and about 60 representatives from the headquarters and more than 40 global offices came to Chongqing for new cooperation opportunities. On November 12, Chongqing-Hong Kong Logistics Cooperation Forum as one of the Hong Kong Seminars on Professional Services for OBOR provided a platform for logistics experts from the two cities to exchange latest technologies and experience in Chongqing. The forum not only offered commercial opportunities to Hong Kong, but also helped improve the logistics industry of Chongqing and strengthen its role in transport and logistics.

In Chongqing-Macao Conference on the Exchange and Cooperation of Conferences and Exhibitions held in Chongqing on May 28 of the same year, representatives of the governments and businesses from Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality signed three agreements on cooperation in real estate, catering and exhibition industry with Macao businesses, which were led by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Macao Conferences and Exhibitions Association.

In September, Cui Jianchun, deputy director of the Department of Consular Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ouyang Yu, director of the Direction for Services of Identification of the Macao SAR Government together with their work groups, made a visit to Chongqing. At the seventh annual meeting on Macao consulate work, they exchanged their opinions about Macao consular protection and the management of foreign consular.In May 2016, led by Huo Qishan, vice president of Henry Fok Group and president of Association for Promoting Exchanges between Chongqing and Hong Kong, the youth delegation of Entrepreneur’s Trip from Hong Kong had the 2016 Chongqing-Hong Kong Entrepreneur Seminar and established a Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneur Space in Yuzhong District, Chongqing.The space as an improved form of cooperation serves as a bridge for youth collaboration in innovation and entrepreneurship.

From August 11 to 14 of the same year, seventeen members of the professional delegation consisted of the Chinese youth in Macao were received by Yang Daqing, deputy director of the Municipal Administration of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs.They learned the history, development, advantages of Chongqing and the status quo of Chongqing-Hong Kong exchanges. They discussed the condition of the information platform for overseas Chinese to contribute to the development of inland areas. They also put forward to strengthen exchanges between youth professionals from Chongqing and Hong Kong through short-term training, fi eld trip and cultural exchanges.

Continuous Cultural and Educational Exchanges Leading to a Resource-sharing Platform

The municipal of fi ce responsible for Hong Kong and Macao affairs has remained a close relationship with the Chongqing office of the Hong Kong SAR since its establishment, both working hard to promote the exchanges between young people from the two cities. The Chongqing office played an important role in bringing together the municipal of fi ce and Hong Kong Vocational Training Commission, which agreed to carry out regular exchanges on vocational education. The project is in fl uential for students, schools and society as it provides an opportunity for young people to learn from and communicate with each other.

In April 2015, the delegation of Chongqing University made the fi rst visit to: University of Macau in Hengqin which was put into full use in 2014. They exchanged ideas on strategic planning, disciplinary construction, student management and campus management. In addition, they held discussion on promoting diversi fi ed and in-depth exchanges and cooperation between University of Macao and mainland universities.

In May, 37 teachers and students from Chongqing University of Education went to Hong Kong Vocational Training Commission for a week of learning and communication, mainly focusing on preschool education, tourism management and real estate. During the week, they learned a lot, from the idea of vocational education in Hong Kong to the modern atmosphere of the metropolitan.

In July, a summary meeting was held for Hong Kong college students who joined a summer internship program in Chongqing,which was part of the plan of “A Thousand Students” from Hong Kong Universities to Work as Interns in Mainland China designed by the Chinese Youth League Central Committee. The onemonth internship was for 39 students from 13 universities such as University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University,Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. On July 23, the municipal office responsible for Hong Kong and Macao affairs, the Chongqing of fi ce of the Hong Kong SAR, the municipal education committee and the government of Nan’an District gathered at Chongqing University of Education to research the project of exchanging students for vocational education.

Great Love Passed on From Generation to Generation

Taking advantage of vast network and various channels in Hong Kong and Macao, the Municipal Administration of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs worked to strengthen the friendship between the people of Chongqing and overseas Chinese. A group of overseas Chinese at Xuan Yuan Education Fund Association, for example, has been active to support the education development of Chongqing and other cities, with Chongqing as its priority for many years. Kong Minzhuang, vice president of the association,and directors to a total amount of 30 people visited Chongqing from December 2 to 3 in 2016 to learn the implementation of their project. In addition, they established new Seed Subsidiaries in Chongqing University and made out detailed implementation plan,hoping to make a contribution in talent cultivation. Another example was the Hong Kong Ying Shanliang Fund Association, which made donations to the health center of Lishu Village in Wanzhou County, the Shilian Primary School in Nanchuan District, a biogas tank Jinlong Village of Daguan Town and the health center of Baisha Town successively in 2016. Their donations helped improve the infrastructure and services of local hospitals. Besides, Cui Weibai, representative of Shanghai office of the association and his colleagues investigated the construction of the village road in Gao’an Town, Dianjiang County. They continued to work for the bene fi t of the public and to maximize the social bene fi ts of donated projects.

In recent years, Chongqing, Hong Kong and Macao have been collaborating in more areas, on more projects and with better results. Under new situations and in a new normal, the three parties have brought their economic, networking and systematic advantages into better play under OBOR with the efforts made by the municipal government and related departments. They have laid down a solid foundation for next year’s cooperation by taking the lead in grasping growth opportunities and leading the development.Chongqing, Hong Kong and Macao are believed to have better prospects for cooperation with integrated resources.