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That economic and business cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong is included in the “10^th 5-year Plan” is a strong support to Hong Kong

At 3:00 p.m. on June 21^st, 2007, the Chinese government website invited Liao Xiaoqi, the vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, to have online communication with net citizens on the topic of “enhancing CEPA and the economic trade communication and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong”.

[Liao Xiaoqi] It is the first time that “the 10^th 5-year Plan” takes in the economic trade cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong. It is put forward in the plan that “closer business ties between the mainland and Hong Kong shall be arranged”, “the development of Hong Kong’s service industry including finance, logistics, tourism, information and so on shall be supported and Hong Kong’s position as the center of international finance, trade, shipping and so on shall be maintained”. This means a huge support to Hong Kong.

We should focus on the following aspects and promote the new leap in the economic and business relationship between the mainland and Hong Kong. First is to keep on implementing CEPA regulations, study the its opening up level and promote the free exchange in products, capital and personage between the mainland and Hong Kong; Second is to promote the overall amalgamation of both economies, support the transformation of Hong Kong’s economy, extend the developing space of Hong Kong’s service industry, consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the international finance, trade and shipping center, and meanwhile bring the mainland manufacturing, service industry to upgrade and further develop; Third is to fully exert the advantages of “One Country, Tow Systems”, encouraging and supporting enterprises in both mainland and Hong Kong to expand the international market and take part in the international competition.

CEPA implementation is a big promotion to the recovery of Hong Kong’s economy

[Liao Xiaoqi] In November of 2001, Hong Kong SAR applied to the central government that they hoped that some free trade zone could be establish between the mainland and Hong Kong, which the central government took serious consideration and provided great support. In January of 2002, negotiations began. After 4 rounds of high level meetings and 20 odd high-ranking officials’ discussion, the both parties signed CEPA in June 2003, which came into force on Jan.1^st, 2004. In the past 3 years, the both parties have signed 3 supplementary agreements successively according to the practical needs of the economy development in both the mainland and Hong Kong. The contents of CEPA has been continuously enriched and improved. At present, the both parties have reached an agreement about the 4^th supplement and will sign this agreement at the end of June just before The 10^th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return, which is to further the opening up to Hong Kong.

Considering the particular social background at that time, it was indeed a great decision of the central government to show support to Hong Kong’s development through the beneficial policies in such fields as product trade, service trade, trade and investment facilitation and so on. In that situation, it did great contributions to the recovery of Hong Kong’s economy, the courage and self confidence.

CEPA is totally in line with WTO rules and “One Country, Tow Systems” policy

[Liao Xiaoqi] CEPA is totally in line with WTO rules and the “One Country, Tow Systems” policy. The Free Trade Agreement is bilaterally or multilaterally beneficial trade arrangement under the WTO rules or the WTO framework. The establishment of free trade zones or the signing of free trade agreements in any country or any region should all submit to and be inspected by WTO. In the year of 2005 and 2006, WTO carried out 3 rounds of inspections and discussions of CEPA and judged that its opening up measures in the product trade and business trade were all in line with WTO rules. In a word, CEPA totally obeys WTO rules. CEPA is a free trade agreement between the China country body and its separate tariff territory Hong Kong, which is completely under the policy of “One Country, Two Systems”. After CEPA was signed, Hong Kong maintained its position as a free port and continued to attend international trade affairs as a separate tariff territory, which also completely obeyed the “One Country, Two Systems” policy.

Focus of the further development of CEPA in the service trade area

[Liao Xiaoqi] CEPA is open. Its content will be continuously enriched according to the practical needs of economy development and business communication in both the mainland and Hong Kong. In the past three years, we have signed another 3 supplementary agreements. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China. In order to promote the economic trade communication and cooperation, the mainland and Hong Kong are busy negotiating and trying their best to sign a new supplementary agreement before July 1^st.

The overall practice of zero-tariff has realized the free product trade. The focus in further development in the future is in service trade area. Hong Kong claims a very developed service industry, which has many advantages. The mainland will take further opening up measures in the advantageous service area and explore more opening up forms to promote the interactive services in both the mainland and Hong Kong. Besides, we will further enrich the 8 areas in the Trade and Investment Facilitation. All these measures are for the deduction and elimination of the barriers in the economic trade communication between the mainland and Hong Kong, fueling their economy to develop.

CEPA levels up the mainland service industry and upgrades its structure

[Liao Xiaoqi] The years 2004 to 2006 take an active role not only to the Hong Kong economy but also to the mainland economy, opening up and development. It is estimated that in 2004 to 2006, CEPA has brought the mainland extra investment of billions of Hong Kong dollars, and 16,000 new job opportunities for the mainlanders. In product trade, due to the zero tariffs of Hong Kong goods, the mainland market is enriched and the choices for customers are broadened, which is good for the customers’ interests.

In the service trade area, Hong Kong’s enterprises and personage get easy access into the mainland with more beneficial terms, which have brought with them advance management concepts, good quality serving manners and broad overseas marketing net, leveling up the mainland service industry and upgrading its structure. At present, banks based in Hong Kong have 122 insurance institutions in the mainland, taking up about 33% of the total foreign invested insurance institutions; registered Hong Kong Individual businesses in mainland totals 2485 involving 6368 people, solving problems for the local employment; Hong Kong based Lawyer Agencies have set 63 deputies in the mainland, which is good for upgrading the overall level of the whole business in mainland. Trade and investment facilitation improves the efficiency of the mainland customs, betters the procedures and systems of product inspection, enhances the transparency of mainland laws and regulations and promotes the healthy development in many fields of the mainland businesses.

scarlett.c 发布在 初出茅庐  |  发布时间: 11:04PM Jul 06, 2007  |  评论[64]