The “Jilin-Hong Kong-Macau Economic and Trade Exchange and Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Conference” was held in Hong Kong yesterday. In his welcome speech, Huang Qiang, Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, stated that Hong Kong, backed by the motherland and connected to the world, holds a unique and prominent position in the national development landscape and plays an important role. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee attended the same event and remarked that this promotion conference is a significant practice for both Jilin and Hong Kong to respond to the national “dual circulation” strategy and deepen complementary advantages, making it highly meaningful.
Huang Qiang pointed out, “Those with shared aspirations are not deterred by mountains and seas.” The comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area are both national strategies. Jilin is further deepening reform and opening up, aiming to build an important northern opening window for the “Belt and Road” initiative. Hong Kong serves as a “super connector” and “super value adder” between the mainland and international markets, while Macau is a “precise connector” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Both Hong Kong and Macau are actively integrating into the national development framework, and deepening cooperation between Jilin and Hong Kong, as well as Jilin and Macau, holds great potential.
Customizing the Ginseng Industry Plan for the Next Five Years
John Lee further shared that over the years, Jilin and Hong Kong have had frequent interactions in economic, trade, and cultural fields. By the end of last year, Hong Kong had invested over 9 billion USD in Jilin, and Jilin’s high-quality agricultural products, especially Changbai Mountain ginseng, have also entered the Hong Kong market. Last year, ginseng became one of the top three commodities exported from Jilin to Hong Kong, with a total export value exceeding 25 million yuan (RMB).
Hong Kong people have always had a special affection for ginseng. Guo Lingji, Vice Governor of Jilin Province, revealed that to target the future market where the annual consumption scale of the entire ginseng industry chain is expected to exceed 300 to 500 billion yuan, Jilin Province has tailored a ginseng industry development plan for 2025–2030. He called on people from Hong Kong and Macau to seize new opportunities in the ginseng industry and jointly create a bright future for the ginseng industry.
Wu Xinghong, President of the Jilin Ginseng Industry Association, proposed a beautiful vision of Jilin and Hong Kong “bonded by ginseng.” He stated that the Jilin Ginseng Industry Association, together with the Hong Kong Baoshoutang Medicinal Materials Chamber of Commerce, Guangdong Ginseng and Deer Antler Chamber of Commerce, and Macau Ginseng and Deer Antler Chamber of Commerce, jointly established the “Ginseng Industry Alliance.”
Additionally, John Lee stated that Jilin is comprehensively advancing rural revitalization and industrial upgrading. Hong Kong will fully play its role as a bridge for “bringing in and going out,” contributing to the development of ginseng and other industries in Jilin towards “branding and internationalization.” Together, they will promote cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine science and technology innovation, cross-border e-commerce, cultural tourism integration, and other fields, further enhancing the global competitiveness of “Jishen Yunwei” and contributing greater strength to the country’s high-quality development and national rejuvenation.
Direct Flights Promote Exchange of People, Wealth, and Vitality
Regarding tourism, John Lee pointed out that Jilin boasts rich ice and snow resources, which are highly attractive to southern cities like Hong Kong. In the past snow season, the number of tourists increased by over 30% year-on-year, indicating the enormous potential of Jilin’s ice and snow tourism and ice and snow sports.
He also mentioned that at the end of last year, the direct flight route between Changchun City, Jilin Province, and Hong Kong was officially opened, making personnel exchanges more convenient and efficient. During the recent Labor Day holiday, a large number of mainland tourists, including those from Jilin, visited Hong Kong. Many local tourist attractions and facilities were very popular, bringing vitality and economic benefits to Hong Kong.
Over 500 people attended this event, including Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Yin Zonghua, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Yongsheng, National People’s Congress Standing Committee Member Li Huiqiong, Jilin Provincial Committee Standing Committee Member and Minister of the United Front Work Department Han Fuchun, Chairman of China National Travel Service (Group) Corporation Wang Haimin, President of the Hong Kong Jilin Provincial Association Yu Zhihui, National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee Members Cai Guanshen, Tan Jinqiu, Yao Zhisheng, and Shi Ronghuai, as well as representatives from all sectors of society.
Key Statistics on Hong Kong-Macau and Jilin Province Exchanges
A total of 435 Hong Kong and Macau enterprises have invested in Jilin Province;
Hong Kong is an important source of foreign investment for Jilin Province, with invested funds accounting for nearly one-third of the province’s total foreign investment;
By the end of last year, Hong Kong’s total investment in Jilin Province exceeded 9 billion USD;
The direct flight route between Hong Kong and Changchun City, Jilin Province, was opened in December last year;
Last year, a total of 88,500 Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan tourists visited Jilin Province.
Source: John Lee’s speech.
