“Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange and Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Conference” Successfully Held in Hong Kong
On the afternoon of May 19, the “Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange and Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Conference” was successfully held in Hong Kong. Attendees included Huang Qiang, Secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial People’s Congress; John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR; Yin Zonghua, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Li Yongsheng, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress; Han Fuchun, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department; Guo Lingji, Vice Governor of Jilin Province; Wang Haimin, Chairman of Hong Kong China Travel Service (Group) Corporation; Yu Zhihui, President of the Hong Kong Jilin Association; and CPPCC Standing Committee Members Choi Koon-shum, Tam Kam-chuen, Yiu Chi-shun, and Shi Wing-fai. More than 500 distinguished guests from various sectors attended the event to engage in practical exchanges on topics such as resource sharing and industrial collaboration.
In his welcome speech, Huang Qiang stated that Hong Kong, backed by the motherland and connected to the world, holds a unique position, prominent advantages, and an important role in the overall national development strategy. Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, Jilin has seized opportunities, forged ahead with innovation and dedication, and is playing an increasingly significant role in advancing Chinese modernization. He emphasized that “those with shared aspirations are never deterred by distance.” The comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are both national strategies. Jilin is deepening reform and opening up and is working to build a key gateway for the Belt and Road Initiative toward northern markets. Hong Kong serves as a “super-connector” and “super-value-adder” between the Chinese mainland and international markets, while Macao is a “precise connector” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. With both regions integrating into the national development strategy, there are vast opportunities for collaboration with Jilin.
John Lee noted in his speech that for many years, Jilin and Hong Kong have had frequent interactions in economic, trade, and cultural fields. By the end of last year, Hong Kong’s cumulative investment in Jilin exceeded USD 9 billion. Jilin’s high-quality agricultural products—especially Changbai Mountain ginseng—have entered the Hong Kong market, with ginseng ranking among the top three exports from Jilin to Hong Kong last year, totaling over RMB 25 million. He added that Jilin is actively promoting rural revitalization and industrial upgrading, and Hong Kong will continue to serve as a bridge for “bringing in” and “going global,” contributing to the branding and internationalization of the ginseng industry. He called for joint efforts in advancing TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) innovation, cross-border e-commerce, and cultural tourism integration, while enhancing the global competitiveness of the “Jilin Ginseng Charm” brand, contributing to high-quality national development and national rejuvenation.
Han Fuchun, who hosted the event, noted that although Jilin, Hong Kong, and Macao are geographically distant, they share strong historical and cultural ties. In recent years, cooperation in economic, cultural, tourism, and education sectors has yielded significant results. He expressed hope that the promotion conference would deepen trilateral exchanges and lead to fruitful cooperation.
During the ginseng industry promotion session, Guo Lingji explained that Changbai Mountain ginseng, nurtured in an excellent ecological environment, has been integrated into a strict quality control system. With the projected annual market size for the entire ginseng industry chain expected to reach RMB 300–500 billion, Jilin has tailored a development plan for the industry covering the years 2025–2030. He encouraged stakeholders from Hong Kong and Macao to seize this opportunity and collaboratively shape a bright future for the ginseng industry.
Wu Xinghong, President of the Jilin Ginseng Industry Association, focused on the cultural significance of Changbai Mountain ginseng and proposed the vision of “forging bonds through ginseng” between Jilin and Hong Kong. He announced the formation of a “Ginseng Industry Alliance” between the Jilin Ginseng Industry Association, Hong Kong’s Po Sau Tong Ginseng & Antler Association, Guangdong Ginseng & Antler Association, and the Macao Ginseng & Antler Association. This alliance will drive the high-quality development of the ginseng industry through multi-party collaboration.
Yu Zhihui, President of the Hong Kong Jilin Association, stated that the promotion event marks a new starting point. The association will continue to act as a “super-connector” between Jilin and Hong Kong, building a two-way bridge for “Jilin products going overseas and Hong Kong capital moving north.” He emphasized that starting with the ginseng industry, they will create more cooperation opportunities and space for development, contributing to Jilin’s high-quality development.
The event featured a symbolic “Lighting Ceremony” for the logo “Sharing New Opportunities, Ginseng Aroma Spreads to Hong Kong,” signaling a new chapter in Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation. The three regions will use the ginseng industry as a link and innovation-driven development as the engine to jointly envision a blueprint for high-quality development.
The conference also included three themed business matchmaking areas: “Jilin Specialty Products,” “Equipment Manufacturing,” and “Biopharmaceuticals.” The atmosphere was lively as representatives from Jilin enterprises and those from Hong Kong and Macao engaged in active discussions. The event showcased the innovative achievements and dynamic growth of Jilin’s characteristic industries.
