More agreements signed with Guangdong

Seven agreements that include the further liberalization of Guangdong's trade services sector were signed between Hong Kong and that south China province.

The agreements were signed during the 15th Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Joint Conference held in Guangzhou on Sept.14. They are to be implemented as a pilot scheme in Guangdong by 2014.

Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaodan said Hong Kong and Guangdong have been eager for greater liberalization of services in five major areas: financial, business, professional services, science and culture.

The two sides will establish a special committee to give priority to carry out the newly signed agreements. Supporting measures to assist Hong Kong firms operating in Guangdong are being planned.

Guangdong promised to introduce 30 supporting measures to assist Hong Kong enterprises in 2011 after Vice-Premier Li Keqiang praised Hong Kong's important role in cooperating with Guangdong province last year.

This June, Zhu said that Guangdong will further initiate 56 more supporting measures within the year to help all small- and medium- enterprises operate their businesses in the province.

"The room for cooperation between the two sides is larger than any time in the past three decades," said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during his first visit to Guangdong since he took office last July.

"Governments, enterprises as well as people on both sides should work together to seize the cooperation opportunities (between Hong Kong and Guangdong)," he noted.