Hong Kong: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has voiced support for Hong Kong's role as a centre of global financial and other economic activities, saying Beijing will seek stronger ties with Hong Kong, according to local media reports.
Hong Kong-based Chinese newspapers, including Takungpao
and Singtao, reported on their websites that Wen mentioned
the importance of Hong Kong's role on world stage during a
press conference in Beijing on Sunday.
The news conference was held after the closing session of
the National People Congress (NPC) in Beijing earlier this
month. The NPC is the highest state body and the only
legislative house in China.
The papers quoted Wen as saying that China will need to
come up with ways "how to maintain and further develop the
existing strengths of Hong Kong as a global financial centre,
shipping centre and trade centre."
He also stressed that the vast market and rapid economic
development in mainland China will provide the resources Hong
Kong needs for its future development, the papers said.
"(We need) to make use of the advantages of proximity to
the mainland in Hong Kong to further strengthen ties between
Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta," Wen was quoted as saying
by the papers.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 15, 2010, 16:27