Beijing will continue to support Hong Kong's bid to maintain its status as an international financial, trading and shipping centre, Vice-Premier Wu Yi said yesterday in a 'definite promise' to the city.
Speaking before a meeting with Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and a 100-member Hong Kong delegation in Changsha , Ms Wu praised Hong Kong's remarkable economic recovery.
'Hong Kong has overcome all kinds of difficulties and faced all kinds of challenges in the past two years,' she said. 'But under the leadership of the chief executive and other parties, I'm glad that Hong Kong's economy has undergone significant recovery.'
Under the 11th five-year plan, the mainland would strengthen its support and co-operation with Hong Kong in all aspects, she said.
'We will continue to support Hong Kong as a financial, trading and shipping centre to develop its advantage. This is a definite promise from the central government.'
Ms Wu said Hong Kong and the central part of China had very good prerequisites to co-operate, especially after the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
'The rate of Hong Kong businesses investing in China never slows down. The development is still going strong.'
