STL visits Guangxi (with photos)
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Upon her arrival in Nanning yesterday evening (January 7), Ms Chan met with the Executive Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Xu Yongke, and exchanged views on strengthening maritime and logistics collaborations between Hong Kong and Guangxi. Speaking at a Guangxi-Hong Kong seminar on transport and logistics this morning, Ms Chan said that Hong Kong serves as a prominent bridge connecting the nation with the global market, while Guangxi is an important channel for exchanges with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also a key node under the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong and Guangxi signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Strategic Co-operation for the Guangxi-Hong Kong Task Force on Transport and Logistics last year, opening up expansive room for co-operation between the two places in the areas of transportation and logistics.
Ms Chan and the delegation later visited the Nanning International Railway Port and the China-Singapore Nanning International Logistics Park to learn about the operation of the related facilities. "This is my first duty visit since assuming the office of the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, and it is also the first Mainland duty visit for the LOGSCOUNCIL after the pandemic, underscoring our high priority attached to the logistics and maritime collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangxi," Ms Chan said.
Ms Chan added that Hong Kong, being an international maritime, aviation and logistics hub, is privileged to enjoy the institutional advantage of being "part of China but outside the Mainland". Since the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the driving distance between Hong Kong and Guangxi has been largely shortened. Together with the commissioning of the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport which enhances the air cargo capacity of the city, Hong Kong can better utilise the extensive aviation network to connect the Mainland with the world where goods from Guangxi can be more readily exported to various overseas destinations. On the other hand, arising from the promotion of building a "New Land-Sea Corridor for Western Regions", the recent development of the Guangxi Beibu Gulf has been rapid. As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong's advantage of possessing numerous and dense shipping routes can provide highly efficient and convenient transit services for goods transferring to and from the Beibu Gulf. Ms Chan expects to further enhance and deepen the logistics and maritime ties between Hong Kong and Guangxi to facilitate logistics and maritime connectivity.
Ms Chan concluded her duty visit to Guangxi and will return to Hong Kong tonight.
Ends/Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:30
Issued at HKT 17:30
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