Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng urged the company to participate in the development of the Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port during his meeting with CEO Merlin Swire.
Chinese Deputy President Han Zheng has urged the British multinational corporation
Swire Group
to contribute to solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation center while actively participating in the growth of the Greater Bay Area.
On Monday, Han encountered Merlin Swire, the CEO of John Swire & Sons, who was present in Beijing for the China Development Forum.
“Han stated that the Swire Group, a globally renowned multinational corporation, has experienced significant growth in both Mainland China and Hong Kong,” as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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I am hopeful that the Swire Group will play an active role in the development of both the Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port.
The Bay Area Blueprint aims to transform Hong Kong, Macau, and nine Guangdong provincial cities into a major economic force. Meanwhile, the Hainan strategy seeks to develop the island into a leading global free-trade center with its own custom regime by the end of this year.
At the meeting with Swire, Han recognized the intricate global landscape but emphasized that China’s backing of economic globalization along with its ongoing reform and openness initiatives will contribute additional stability to the international community.
Han similarly had a meeting with the CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis, Vasant Narasimhan, underscoring Beijing’s backing for the creation of novel medications and fostering an improved climate for innovative activities among international corporations.
He urged the firm to capitalize on opportunities, leverage its advantages, and enhance cooperation with the nation for better growth within China.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that both Swire and Narasimhan spoke positively about China’s economic and social accomplishments and expressed optimism regarding the nation’s future.
It was claimed that both firms agreed to engage in extended partnerships with the nation and vowed to increase their financial commitment and strengthen collaboration with China in sectors such as aviation, healthcare, and medical services.
At last month’s “two sessions” political event, Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged Hong Kong to strengthen global interactions and collaboration. This directive was seen as a step towards enhancing China’s openness during the growing competition between Beijing and Washington.
In 2023, Merlin Swire headed a delegation that met with Xia Baolong, who leads the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
At the meeting, Xia commended the team for their sustained involvement in Hong Kong and their backing of the “one country, two systems” governance policy, simultaneously encouraging them to play a role in advancing the nation’s progress.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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