Hong Kong and Sichuan sign agreement for closer cooperation across 12 key areas including transport, finance
- Carrie Lam hails bonds forged through 2008 earthquake support, giant panda donation as both governments agree to build deeper ties
- Deal signed in Chengdu during Lam’s week-long mainland China visit covers areas such as finance, transport, technology and legal services
Hong Kong authorities covering transport, education and professional services will work more closely with their counterparts in the mainland Chinese province of Sichuan under an agreement signed between the two governments on Thursday.
Both sides vowed in the pact sealed in Chengdu to step up cooperation, including sharing expertise on railway and airport projects, encouraging the joint-working of lawyers on both sides of the border and fostering greater collaboration between universities.
Lam is on a week-long visit to the mainland ending on Tuesday. She is expected to travel to Chongqing on Friday before heading to Xian two days later to attend the closing ceremony of the National Games of China on Monday evening.
The Hong Kong leader told Peng in a meeting that she hoped the two places would maintain a close relationship, citing the bonds formed through a range of events such as the deadly Sichuan earthquake 13 years ago and the donation of giant pandas from the province.
“Sichuan people appreciated Hong Kong’s participation in the reconstruction works after the 2008 earthquake. [Mainland authorities also donated] several pandas to Hong Kong from Sichuan, they are the important connections between the province and Hong Kong,” she said.