HKTDC to explore advantages of Hong Kong in services trade to serve the BRI

People visit the booth of south China's Hong Kong during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will give full display to its advantages in services trade to help satisfy the varied demands of Chinese companies in exploring the markets in Belt and Road countries, Zhong Yongxi, chief representative of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in the Chinese mainland told Xinhua on September 3.

Zhong made the remarks during the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), saying that Hong Kong boasts special advantages in services industry and many sectors in service industry are running under standards in line with their international counterparts.

As a service-oriented regional economy, Hong Kong SAR's services industry contributes more than 90 percent of its gross regional product, introduced Zhong, adding that the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) proposes to support Hong Kong to improve its role as an international finance, shipping, trade and aviation hub and strengthen its functions as a global offshore Renminbi business hub and international asset and risk management center.

Under such circumstances, Zhong hoped such advantages of Hong Kong can be exploited to serve the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is the main reason for the establishment of the Hong Kong booth on the 2021 CIFTIS.

Designed under the concept of "Quantum transition", the Hong Kong booth on this year's CIFTIS presents the dynamism and vitality of Hong Kong in innovation and high-tech fields, showing its willingness to link advantages of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland to create new and more optimized services trade application scenarios.

For years, Hong Kong has been an important platform for Chinese companies to go global and foreign enterprises to enter the Chinese mainland market.

In the future, Hong Kong can play a vital role in helping enterprises manage risks in their explorations of the markets in Belt and Road countries and facilitate the digital transformation of Belt and Road countries and regions, Zhong said. (Edited by Duan Jing with Xinhua Silk Road, duanjing@xinhua.org)