John Lee: Main theme of Hong Kong's five-year plan is to integrate into and serve the overall national development, build a global cooperation network to boost the economy.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivered a video address at the inaugural Chinese Development Forum, stating that Hong Kong's first five-year plan is a long-term arrangement that proactively aligns with the national "15th Five-Year Plan," in order to respond to the accelerating evolution of profound changes unseen in a century. He said the main theme of the five-year plan is to integrate into and serve the overall national development, while also building a global cooperation network, and through this main theme to advance the goals of developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods. John Lee Ka-chiu said that in terms of internal connectivity, Hong Kong will deepen the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, strengthen cooperation in technological innovation, and promote "hard connectivity" of infrastructure, "soft connectivity" through alignment of rules and mechanisms, as well as "heart connectivity" among residents of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Hong Kong will make full use of the major cooperation platforms in the Greater Bay Area, and work with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to advance complementary advantages, differentiated development, and mutual benefit, promote policy innovation, and further strengthen linkage and collaboration with other parts of the mainland. In terms of external connectivity, John Lee Ka-chiu said Hong Kong will deeply participate in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and this will not be limited to infrastructure financing, but will also create advantages in full-chain, diversified professional services. Hong Kong will deepen international exchanges, expand its global cooperation network, actively participate in the affairs of international organizations, promote rule-making and alignment, help enhance the country's international influence and discourse power, and at the same time lower the threshold for Hong Kong and mainland enterprises going global and open up international markets. John Lee Ka-chiu also said that the "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a strategic opportunity period for Hong Kong to proactively adapt to the trends of the times. Hong Kong's development direction is to fully leverage its unique advantages of internal and external connectivity under "one country, two systems," serve well as a "super connector" and "super value-adder," and on this basis consolidate and enhance its own advantages, cultivate new development momentum, and while achieving better development for itself, contribute Hong Kong's strength to serving the country's building of a strong nation and the great cause of national rejuvenation.