New projects

During the 2006 Heilongjiang (Hong Kong) Week, which kicked off on November 6 in Hong Kong, 266 co-operative projects from 13 cities in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were introduced to businesspeople in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

These projects, aimed at Hong Kong investors, mainly covered eight fields-construction of the Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor, trade and technology co-operation with Russia, the tourism and service sector, modern agriculture and construction of the new countryside, transformation of resource-based cities' economies, industrial revitalization, infrastructure construction, environmental protection and the efficient use of resources.

In addition to these newly released projects, Zhang Zuoji, governor of the province, said his government had mapped out a new development blueprint, formulated more favourable policies, and built a more friendly environment, seeking to attract investment from Hong Kong's business community.

Tourism introduced

Heilongjiang Province held a presentation of tourism projects in Hong Kong last week.

More than 200 government officials and business representatives from the tourism sector, industry and commerce community, and the media participated in the event.

During the presentation event, 20 tourism agencies and companies from Heilongjiang signed contracts worth 1.6 billion yuan (US$200 million) with their counterparts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan Province.

The tourism co-operation agreements included construction of projects and tourist group exchanges.

A hotel association from Kaohsiun in Taiwan plans to invest 1 billion yuan (US$125 million) in the renovation and construction of hotels and tourism projects in Heilongjiang.

Awarding honours

On behalf of his government and 38 million people in Heilongjiang, Zhang Zuoji, governor of Heilongjiang Province, awarded 100 gold medals and 138 silver medals to the elite of Hong Kong's business community last Monday, who have made great contributions to co-operation between the two regions.

Zhang said that exchange and co-operation between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong are important for the development of both regions, and that the medal winners had played a key role in promoting Heilongjiang-Hong Kong collaboration.

Official visit

Zhang Zuoji, governor of Heilongjiang Province, visited Han Myeong Sook, prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) before Heilongjiang Week in the ROK.

Han said that China and the ROK enjoyed growing trade ties. She expects Heilongjiang Province will play an active role in furthering economic exchanges between the two countries.

She added that next year will see the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ROK diplomatic relations and thus more activities are expected to take place, aimed at enhancing the already well-developed bilateral relations.

Governor Zhang thanked Prime Minister Han for her years of support to the development of Heilongjiang Province.

He said that Heilongjiang Province would use the opportunity of launching Heilongjiang Week in the ROK to strengthen co-operation with Korean counterparts in industrial park construction, modern agriculture, high-tech industries, tourism, infrastructure construction, and technological and cultural exchanges.

(China Daily 11/16/2006 page6)