The "Conference on deepening ties between Shandong province, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan" was held via both online and offline channels on March 23 in Jinan, the provincial capital.

Supported by the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the Shandong Provincial People's Government, the high-profile event was attended by about 1,000 representatives from government departments, business organizations and industry leaders from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In his speech, Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong, said that the province has been beefing up efforts to implement China's new development philosophy, facilitate domestic and international circulations, accelerate the replacement of old growth drivers with new ones and foster an economy with a greater level of openness.

"We will do our best to have a good start to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), facilitate domestic and international circulations, and contribute to the new development paradigm," said Liu.

The top Shandong official emphasized that the province is pushing forward high-level opening-up, accelerating the development of a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, and facilitating the establishment of an open economy.

Liu said that Shandong will provide better services for investors and talents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, such as preferential investment and entrepreneurship policies as well as strict intellectual property rights protection policies.

"We look forward to working with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in expanding industrial cooperation, enhancing scientific innovation, boosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as well as expanding domestic consumption and smoothening supply chains," said Liu.

The "Conference on deepening ties between Shandong province, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan" is held via both online and offline channels on March 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former Hong Kong chief executive, pointed out that the national 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035 attach importance to Hong Kong's strengths and functions in finance, shipping and trade, which will facilitate more cooperation opportunities for Shandong and Hong Kong.

"It is necessary for us to fully and deeply introduce to Shandong the new strengths of Hong Kong, and for Hong Kong to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the strengths of Shandong. Hong Kong will give full play to its role as the 'super-connector' in linking the Chinese mainland to global markets and exploring new areas of cooperation with Shandong province," said Leung.

In her online speech, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that Hong Kong has a very close economic and trade relationship with Shandong.

"Hong Kong has always been an important economic and trade partner of Shandong and a major source of external investment. It is also the first choice for Shandong enterprises to list overseas," she said.

Carrie Lam pointed out that as the country speeds up the construction of the new development paradigm, Hong Kong, as a law-based, market-oriented and international city, will embrace new opportunities.

"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Hong Kong and Shandong will continue to deepen cooperation. I hope that this event will generate more exchanges and cooperation between the two sides," she said.

Ho Iat-seng, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, also delivered a speech via video link.

"Shandong, as an economic powerhouse, has a strong industrial foundation and special innovation advantages. Macao and Shandong enjoy a sound basis for cooperation in the fields of traditional Chinese medicine, tourism, economy and trade," he said.

"Looking into the future, Macao will continue to leverage its advantages as an international trade free port and a separate customs zone to strengthen cooperation with Shandong and further expand the space for cooperation," he said.

Representatives from related commerce departments, business organizations and companies also delivered speeches at the event.

A total of 41 projects worth $5.22 billion in investments were signed at the meeting. The projects, which mainly involve equipment manufacturing, new-generation information technology, medical care, new energy and new materials, modern agriculture and modern services, will contribute to Shandong's high-quality development, said Shandong officials.