Paul Chan visits Madrid to bolster Hong Kong-Spain ties

This was during his visit to Madrid, Spain. 

Financial Secretary Paul Chan met with Francisco de Borja Fanjul Fernandez-Pita, president of Madrid's City Council plenary, to discuss strengthening cooperation between Hong Kong and Madrid. 

On his visit to Spain, Chan called on the council of Madrid, a local innovation and technology centre, and a Spanish innovation accelerator and venture capital fund.

Briefing the president on developments in Hong Kong across various sectors, Chan highlighted that with the support from China’s central government, the “one country, two systems” arrangement will continue to be implemented in Hong Kong over the long run.

The finance chief emphasised that Hong Kong will maintain an international, open and friendly business environment and practise the common law.

He said he hoped the two places could continue to nurture mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as finance, innovation and technology (I&T), culture, and education.

Chan also met the director general of the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico y la Innovacion (CDTI) Jose Moises Martin Carretero.

The CDTI provides funding support for projects aligned with Spain’s I&T development strategy and promotes technological cooperation between Spain and other countries and regions.

Chan highlighted the progress Hong Kong has made in recent years through investing substantially in I&T, as well as the support provided by Hong Kong’s full-spectrum financial services to I&T enterprises and projects at various stages of their development.

He also invited Spanish enterprises to invest in Hong Kong and leverage its advantages to explore the vast markets of the Greater Bay Area, Mainland China more broadly, and Asia.

Chan also led a delegation of Hong Kong technology startups on a visit to Wayra, discussing ways to promote mutual cooperation with investment team leaders

Furthermore, Chan has also called on the Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing. He talked to the ambassador about Hong Kong’s latest situation, as well as its development direction and strategies.

They also discussed economic and trade cooperation between China and Spain and the promotion of business and I&T collaboration between Hong Kong and Spain.