On the morning of August 22nd, Sichaun•Hong Kong•Macao Cooperation Week Sichuan Promotion Conference on International Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Initiative with the theme of “Great Opportunities to be Discovered in China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone" was held in Hong Kong. Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Mr. Yin Li, Vice Secretary of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC and Governor of Sichuan Provincial People's Government, attended the promotion and delivered a speech respectively.

　　In his speech, Mr. Leung Chun-ying said that the Belt and Road Initiative is an initiative of international cooperation and Hong Kong is an important node in the Belt and Road Initiative because Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in China. In the process of implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong is willing to give her full play and share international linkage, international contract abilities and international experiences with inland provinces. Hong Kong and Sichuan have wide, close and beneficial cooperation relationship for a long time. Sichuan is the starting point of Ancient Southern Silk Road. Now, under new international cooperation climate, Sichuan has unique advantages. He believed that Hong Kong and Sichuan could further enhance cooperation, give full play of unique advantages, take good use of the new opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhance the joint development of Sichuan, Hong Kong and domestic partners.

　　On behalf of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC and Sichuan Provincial People's Government, Mr. Yin Li extended heart-felt gratitude towards the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the compatriots of Hong Kong for their long-time concerns and support to the development of Sichuan and their full assistance to the earthquake-stricken areas of Sichuan. He mentioned that in the 20 years since Hong Kong returning to the motherland and under the support of the Central Government, people between Sichuan and Hong Kong are getting more close. Exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and Sichuan have been continuously deepened. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Sichuan have formed a sound pattern of government planning, higher official promoting, wide participation, and win-win benefit. In the future, Hong Kong and Sichuan will have more solid cooperative foundations, more mature cooperative conditions, and wider cooperative futures. 

　　Mr. Yin Li has proposed 5 suggestions concerning promoting the mutual cooperation between Sichuan and Hong Kong to deeper level, wider fields, and higher standards. First, we should further deepen cooperation in the Belt and Road construction. We should jointly construct land and air corridors in the Belt and Road initiative, deepen cooperation in zero tariff in cargo trade, expanding the marketing access of service trade, and implementing trade investment convenience and so on, and enlarge the supply of qualified agricultural products such as vegetables, meat and so on to Hong Kong. He has wished that Hong Kong could continue to be the super contractor of Sichuan to the world, help Sichuan to attract and introduce more excellent experts and advantageous companies, and promote more Sichuan-made products to go globally. Second, we should further deepen cooperation in the construction of China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. We should strengthen linkage in aspects including trade supervision, financial innovation, investment management, capacity cooperation, cargo customs clearance and so on. Sichuan will learn from Hong Kong for successful experience and innovate trade supervision systems with the highlight on trade convenience. Third, we should further deepen cooperation in special service development concentrating on finance. Sichuan welcomes more Hong Kong financial institutes to establish branches in Sichuan, supports Sichuan enterprises to be enlisted in Hong Kong, participate into international mergers and acquisitions, and conduct international cooperation, and hopes that more logistics, accounting, consulting and legal enterprises to be settled in Sichuan. Fourth, we should further deepen cooperation in tourism development. Sichuan will support more HK enterprises to invest industrial integrated development projects including tourism, sports, and health, and jointly create world tourism important destinations and international tourism super transfer station. Fifth, we should further deepen cooperation in cultural exchanges. We should conduct “young talent exchange program”, jointly protect giant pandas, strengthen cooperation in education and health care, and promote cooperation in industries including music and culture and so on.

　　2018 will be the 10th year for Wenchuan Massive Earthquake. Governor Yin Li invited HK representatives to visit Sichuan and see a more open and beautiful Sichuan.

　　Mr. Xie Feng, Commissioner of Office of The Commissioner of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The People's Republic Of China in The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr James Lau, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of HK SAR, and so on also delivered a speech respectively. Mr. Qiu Hong, Vice Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also attended the promotion. Mr. Fan Ruiping, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Sichuan Province and Secretary of Chengdu Municipal Committee of the CPC, introduced Chengdu’s development opportunities. Mr. Liu Xin, Minister of Commerce introduced China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Mrs. Cheung Yan, Chairlady of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, Mr. Wang Fengchao, President of Sichuan Development Holding Co., Ltd, Mr. Lang Jie, Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, also delivered a speech respectively. Representatives from commercial and industrial sectors were also present at the promotion.

　　A total of 26 projects with mutual investment and trade cooperation between Sichuan and Hong Kong have been signed on the promotion with the contract volumes of 20.4 billion US dollars covering fields including comprehensive development, agriculture, cultural tourism, health care, manufacturing, education, finance, energy and so on.

　　Before the promotion, Mr. Leung Chun-ying and Mr. Yin Li also saw “Tianfu New Opportunities” Sichuan Theme Exhibition. Mr. Yin Li also met some guests attending the promotion.