QINGDAO DAILY, July 6 — Chief of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Meng Qingbin led a delegation to Hong Kong and Macao from June 29 to July 4 for trade and investment promotion and cooperation exchanges.

The delegation visited the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong and met with CPPCC members based in the city, in addition to holding talks with the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and companies including COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. on cooperation projects to advance Qingdao’s development as an international shipping hub, and visited professional bodies such as the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group. The delegation also held a promotional event for Qingdao companies under the city’s STC Certified Mark Scheme to deepen trade ties under the aegis of deepened collaboration with the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC), and convened a networking session between the Qingdao Entrepreneurs Federation and Hong Kong business associations to foster long-term cooperation. The delegation also conducted visits to institutions such as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to explore industry-academia-research collaboration in frontier fields of technology and innovation. It also met Hong Kong-based financial institutions including ABC International and CCB International, to broaden investment and financing channels for Qingdao companies.

In Macao, the delegation visited the central government’s liaison office, met CPPCC members based in the city, and held talks with community groups including the General Association of Shandong Associations (Macau), following up on cooperation in key industrial projects. The delegation also visited the University of Macau and other higher education institutions to explore joint research and talent exchanges in traditional Chinese medicine, marine science and technology, and other fields before meeting Chongwa (Macao) Financial Asset Exchange Co., Ltd. (MOX) to explore opportunities for specialised financial cooperation.

Meng Qingbin praised Qingdao, Hong Kong and Macao for their highly complementary industries, a solid foundation for cooperation and broad prospects for growth. As Qingdao advances major national strategies and accelerates its development into a modern international metropolis, he called for closer alignment between the strengths of Hong Kong and Macao and Qingdao’s development needs. He urged deeper practical cooperation in shipping, trade, finance, technology and talent, as well as youth innovation and entrepreneurship, to deliver more tangible outcomes. Meng also affirmed how the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the CPPCC would continue to build diverse platforms for exchange, foster a first-class environment for Hong Kong and Macao residents pursuing opportunities in Qingdao, and rally forces committed to the country and to the prosperity of Hong Kong and Macao. He then called for joint efforts to open a new chapter of high-quality development based on complementary strengths and mutual benefit.

Member of the leading Party members group of the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the CPPCC Li Suman was also present during the visits.