PHNOM PENH - China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Cambodia still have huge room for growth in trade and investment, a HKSAR's top economic official said here on Tuesday.Trade volume between HKSAR and Cambodia rose to $1.2 billion in 2017, an average increase of 3.1 percent a year since 2013. On the investment side, HKSAR had invested about $1.33 billion in 257 projects in Cambodia in the last two decades.The current $1.2 billion volume of trade in goods is just a humble sum that stands a high chance of expansion, especially if our trading relationship prospers in the areas of mutual investment and professional services, Edward Yau, HKSAR's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said in a speech during a Luncheon Seminar.The seminar was attended by approximately 300 HKSAR and Cambodian business people and officials.Hong Kong and Cambodia are much closer than we thought and together we could foster an even closer economic and trade relationship, he said.Yau, who led a 48-strong HKSAR delegation of businessmen and professionals, arrived in Cambodia on Monday, the first leg of their two-nation tour, which will also bring them to Vietnam.The mission was the first of its kind to Southeast Asia since HKSAR signed a free trade agreement and a related investment agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in November last year. personalised rubber wristbandsrubber bracelet maker24 hour wristbands coupon codeballer bandslivestrong braceletcool wristbands
In a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said China insists on a political resolution to the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue through peaceful means. China's stance on the issue is clear and consistent, he said. The two sides should keep their histories in mind and look ahead, pressing continually to improve relations based on the spirit of four important political documents between China and Japan and the four-point principled agreement reached in November 2014, Yang said. Yang said at the meeting that China-Japan relations are at an important juncture, with new opportunities and outstanding challenges in this 45th anniversary year of the normalization of relations between the two nations. Yang urged Japan to honor its words and abide by rules regarding the historical issues between the two, and the Taiwan question. It should work with China to safeguard East China Sea peace and stability. Talking to the heads of seven Japan-China friendship groups and the Japan Business Federation on Tuesday, Yang welcomed Japan to discuss cooperation with China in the Belt and Road Initiative. Yang co-chaired with Japanese National Security Adviser Shotaro Yachi the fourth round of high-level political dialogue on Monday. He said China attaches importance to developing its relationship with Japan. He urged the two sides to further enhance communication between local governments and young people to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples. He called on Japan to conform with the trend of the times and implement, with specific policies and concrete actions, the consensus that the two countries are each other's cooperative partners, and that China's development is an opportunity for Japan. Yachi said Japan's stance on the Taiwan question and historical issues have not changed and Japan is dedicated to improving its relationship with China and is willing to work with China to enhance exchanges at all levels, expand positive aspects and properly manage disputes in bilateral relations. Xinhua contributed to this story. [email protected]
