According to Zhitong Finance APP, on November 5, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended the Hong Kong sub-forum of the 9th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai.

In his speech, he pointed out that Hong Kong's circle of friends is expanding day by day, and Hong Kong's economic and trade network is not a one-way channel but a multi-directional hub.

Hong Kong has become the world's fifth-largest merchandise trading economy, has signed free trade agreements with 21 economies, and has signed investment agreements with 34 economies.

The SAR government will continue to expand its international economic and trade network and play a greater role in the country's high-level opening-up.

In addition to consolidating ties with traditional markets, Hong Kong will actively explore opportunities in emerging markets, focus on opening up economies with potential, and deeply participate in high-quality Belt and Road co-build.

Speaking of Hong Kong's advantages and development direction, John Lee said that finance is Hong Kong's foundation and greatest advantage, and Hong Kong's international financial center must highlight its international positioning.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hong Kong will continue to strengthen its position as the world's largest offshore RMB business hub, further enhance the offshore RMB market's ability to support the real economy, and comprehensively improve support for trade, investment and financing, and cross-border business.

He said Hong Kong will focus on the stock and bond markets to enhance market depth, breadth, and liquidity, helping mainland enterprises go global and international capital come in.

At the same time, Hong Kong will give full play to the finance-plus strategy, use finance to empower the real economy, actively build an ecosystem for commodities and gold trading, technological innovation, and green development, and serve the country's effort to build a financial powerhouse.

In terms of the international shipping center and international aviation hub, with the orientation of stabilizing container volume, increasing value, and strengthening coordination, Hong Kong will accelerate its upgrade and transformation from a large-tonnage port to a value port.

At the same time, it will accelerate the development of modern shipping services, build a diversified and resilient international transport corridor system, promote the healthy and orderly development of international air cargo and the low-altitude economy, speed up sea-air connectivity, and comprehensively enhance Hong Kong's hub function in the country's modern transportation network.

On innovation and technology, John Lee said that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hong Kong will more proactively and closely align with the national science and technology strategy.

At the upstream scientific research level, it will target national strategic science and technology fields, strengthen research on key core technologies, and seek scientific research breakthroughs in areas of core national demand.

At the downstream industry level, it will accelerate the development of national strategic emerging industries, connect with industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, create a deeply coordinated model of high-end R&D, advanced manufacturing, and modern services, and contribute Hong Kong's strength to the building of the country's modern industrial system.

As for the Northern Metropolis, he described it as having entered a stage of full-speed construction.

The Hong Kong government will accelerate innovative and diversified development, attract industries, and develop the Northern Metropolis into an important strategic carrier for high-level post-secondary education, innovation and technology industry integration, and the gathering of high-end international talent, making it a new engine for building Hong Kong's new quality productive forces.

John Lee concluded that as the country moves toward the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong stands at a new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The blueprint has been drawn, and it is time to forge ahead.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical period for Hong Kong to proactively ride the wave of the times.

Hong Kong will fully leverage its advantages of internal and external connectivity under one country, two systems, play the role of super connector and super value-adder, consolidate and enhance its existing advantages, stimulate innovation momentum, and while achieving its own high-quality development, contribute Hong Kong's strength to integrating into and serving the country's effort to build a strong nation.