Hong Kong can act as a strategic platform for companies wishing to invest in south China’s Guangdong Province, said Trade Development Council (TDC) chairman Peter Woo. He was speaking at a lunch meeting in Guangzhou as part of a high-level business delegation on a five-day visit to the Pearl River Delta (PRD), aimed at further enhancing business-to-business cooperation

“Promoting more exchanges between Guangdong and Hong Kong companies will benefit both sides,” said Mr Woo. “Companies should form strategic partnerships to brace for competition in this new era of China’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession.”

During his trip Mr Woo also met with Guangdong Governor Lu Ruihua, who said that both sides should establish closer ties and cooperation should shift to high value-added collaberation.

“If Guangdong and Hong Kong work together, we will be well poised to jointly develop overseas markets. On the other hand, we can serve as a conduit to channel more foreign business and foreign investment into the mainland market,” said Mr Woo. “Mainland enterprises can leverage on Hong Kong’s dynamic platform to facilitate their business moves, both inward and outward.