Hong Kong strengthens ties with Nantong

Chen Songyi (R), vice-chairman of the CPPCC Nantong Committee, talks with Yeung Yiu Chung, honorary chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Nantong Fellows, at a meeting in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on June 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation from Hong Kong visited Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province on June 28. With 102 members, it was the largest Hong Kong delegation to ever visit Nantong.

Chen Songyi, vice-chairman of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) Nantong Committee, welcomed the delegation headed by Yeung Yiu Chung, honorary chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Nantong Fellows (AHKNF) and the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW). The two parties discussed cooperation in education, culture, and tourism.

Chen expressed hope that the two sides would strengthen cooperation in education by facilitating exchanges between students and teachers and establishing sister school ties. He also encouraged more Hong Kong companies to invest in Nantong.

Yeung agreed with Chen and expressed his confidence in Nantong's development. He said that the city is being presented with great opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region. The AHKNF will continue to help promote the city’s development.

A signing ceremony was held after the meeting where the HKFEW signed a friendly cooperation agreement with the Nantong bureau of culture, broadcasting, television and tourism.

At the ceremony, the HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School and HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School, both founded by the HKFEW in 2001, also established sister school ties with Nantong Middle School and the Second Affiliated Primary School of Nantong Normal College, respectively.

Nantong has maintained a long-term partnership with Hong Kong, providing the city with a reliable source of investment. In 2018, investors from Hong Kong poured $1.56 billion yuan into 121 projects in the city.

Nantong has also made significant efforts to facilitate close communications with Hong Kong, particularly in the education sector.

Nantong sent 12 groups of middle school students to visit Hong Kong between 2007 and 2018, and received three groups of students from Hong Kong over the same time period.