Speech by SCED at APEC MRT Meeting discussion session on Prosperity through Sustainable Trade
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the discussion session entitled "Prosperity through Sustainable Trade" at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 16):
Thank you, Chair, and good morning, colleagues.
Supply chains are the driving engines for today's global economy, yet they are also highly sensitive and vulnerable to external shocks, as we have witnessed during COVID-19 and in recent days.
Hong Kong, China (HKC), as an international shipping and logistics hub, has been implementing various measures to support sustainable supply chains. Our Climate Action Plan 2050 steers four major decarbonisation strategies, namely, net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. Increasing the zero-carbon energy supply through renewable energy development, popularising the use of electric commercial vehicles, enhancing the current cross-border electricity transmission infrastructure and developing a green maritime fuel bunkering centre are just a few examples of our efforts on this front. Furthermore, to assist the trade in seizing the business opportunities in green logistics, we have also commenced a study on the development of green and sustainable logistics.
In December 2024, we launched the roadmap on sustainability disclosure in HKC, as a pathway for large publicly accountable entities to fully adopt, by 2028, the International Financial Reporting Standards - Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards), making HKC to be amongst the first jurisdictions to align its local requirements with the ISSB Standards.
In parallel, enabling initiatives have been rolled out to equip micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with the means to manage their environmental footprint and encourage market participants to improve sustainable business practices. Funding schemes and capacity building programmes have also been put in place to encourage the adoption of digital technologies by MSMEs to facilitate the digital transformation of supply chains.
The issue of supply chains has always been an integral part of APEC discussions since 2009 when our predecessors endorsed the APEC Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan at the APEC Ministerial Meeting. HKC believes that APEC has a continued key role in facilitating our businesses in strengthening sustainable supply chains. APEC's role becomes even more important now than ever, when cross-border trade and investments and supply chains face uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.
To this end, HKC appreciates Korea's efforts in organising an informative public-private forum on this important topic last week.
Our collective goal of strengthening sustainable supply chains should never be a trade-off between sustainability and trade, but rather a synergy between the two. HKC is committed to working with all member economies to drive progress towards shared prosperity through sustainable trade.
Thank you.
SITI visits Guangxi
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, visited Nanning in Guangxi today (January 14).
This morning, Professor Sun called on the Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Congress, Mr Chen Gang, and learned that Guangxi is accelerating the high-quality development of artificial intelligence and building an industrial co-operation highland for the AI industry facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They also had exchanges and in-depth discussions on further strengthening the co-operation and synergistic development between Hong Kong and Guangxi in various areas including AI, innovation and technology (I&T) parks, data infrastructure, data governance, and nurturing talent. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and Vice Chairman of the People's Government of the Autonomous Region Ms Lu Xinning also attended the meeting.
Professor Sun said Hong Kong will fully leverage its distinctive advantage of having strong support from the motherland and a close connection with the world. Through complementary co-operation and synergistic development, Hong Kong and Guangxi will explore co-operation between the two places and with ASEAN countries in industries such as AI and the digital economy.
Professor Sun then met with Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Nanning Municipal Committee, Mr Xu Yongguo, to exchange views on I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and Nanning.
Professor Sun visited the Display Center of the China-ASEAN Countries Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center and toured its display hall. The Center is an AI co-operation platform, jointly established by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and ASEAN countries, which aims to promote regional co-operation in AI technologies and the digital transformation of industries. The center is also an industrial highland facing ASEAN.
He was briefed on the Center's construction and operation, as well as its co-operation with ASEAN countries. He also observed the AI+ industries and application scenarios, including industrialisation and social governance, and exchanged views on the co-operation model of research and development, integration in Guangxi, and applications in ASEAN.
Professor Sun also visited the exhibition centre of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor and the Beibu Gulf Big Data Exchange Center and studied the collaboration in AI between Guangxi and ASEAN countries, as well as the development and transaction of data products. He also learned about the cross-boundary data flow channels and industrial Internet platforms, the construction of the Digital Silk Road, and co-operation with the ASEAN market.
Professor Sun then visited the China-ASEAN Geographic Information Town to study the industrial applications of technologies, such as satellite navigation and geographic information, in the fields of smart city, cross-boundary logistics, and so on.
Meanwhile, Professor Sun visited the China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange (China-Singapore Nanning International Logistics Park) to learn about the operation of the large-scale cross-boundary integrated logistics park and one-stop trade platform that integrates functions including production, warehousing, logistics, exhibition, commerce and finance. He also studied the international co-operation between ASEAN countries and Guangxi through the Western New Land-Sea Corridor.
Upon his arrival in Nanning, Guangxi yesterday, Professor Sun immediately met with Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Party Secretary and Director of the Guangxi Big Data Development Bureau Mr Zhao Zhigang, to have an in-depth exchange on issues including the promotion of data sharing, smart city development, and co-operation in digital industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr Rocky Cheng, also joined the visit.
Professor Sun will continue his visit tomorrow. He will visit a digital intelligent operations and maintenance service provider and its intelligent computing centre to learn about the service provider's latest achievements in AI and computing power, digital intelligence technology and products. He will also visit the China Mobile Group Guangxi Company to conduct studies on the planning of its infrastructure in computing power and its AI industry large models.
Professor Sun will conclude his visit before noon and return to Hong Kong.
SITI visits Guangxi Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI visits Guangxi Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI visits Guangxi Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
