Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said Thursday that either the Mainland or Hong Kong and Macao should seize opportunities to achieve greater progress.

While addressing the opening of a Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation and Development between the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, Jia said the tripartite cooperation accords with the trend of the times and holds great opportunities.

He said that in recent years, the mainland has taken a series of measures to support Hong Kong and Macao in growing their economies and boost economic cooperation and trade with the two regions, such as implementing the Chinese mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), allowing more mainland residents to visit Hong Kong and Macao, and granting Hong Kong and Macao banks access to Renminbi business.

He said Hong Kong Chief Executive would announce the new CEPA measures at the opening of the forum and the State Council is considering new policies for expanding Renminbi business.

He expected the Special Administrative Region (SAR) governments of Hong Kong and Macao to keep in mind the popular desire for stability, development and harmony in the two regions, and give top priority to economic development.

Jia urged the two SAR governments to sum up both the successful practices and identify problems emerging in the economic cooperation and trade among the three regions since the implementation of CEPA, make full use of the relevant policy incentives within the framework of the current arrangement, and deepen regional cooperation.

"On the basis of CEPA and other existing cooperation mechanisms, we should improve the mechanism of communication on economic and trade matters between the central government and Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments, making it a long-term, stable and effective mechanism," Jia said.

He stressed that under the overall coordination of the central government, the relevant central government departments and local governments will strengthen communication and coordination with Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments on policies and specific matters related to economic cooperation and trade.

Jia expected the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to achieve common prosperity by drawing on each other's strength. "By enhancing their economic and trade cooperation, the mainland and the two SARs can complement each other with their comparative advantages, form synergy and emerge as winners in international economic competition," Jia added.

At the invitation of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Jia arrived here Tuesday morning for a visit to the HKSAR and for attending activities marking the third anniversary of the signing of CEPA.

Source: Xinhua