On July 8, Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, and Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Acting Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, met in Chengdu with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu and his delegation.

During the meeting, Wang Xiaohui and Shi Xiaolin, on behalf of the provincial Party committee and provincial government, welcomed John Lee Ka-chiu and his delegation, congratulated the new-term HKSAR government for its efforts in promoting Hong Kong to enter a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive, and expressed gratitude for Hong Kong's long-standing support and assistance in Sichuan's development. Wang Xiaohui stated that Sichuan and Hong Kong are pivotal in the nation's two major regional strategies, with Sichuan focusing on constructing the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle while Hong Kong on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and both regions hold significant positions and shoulder important missions in the overall development of the country. In recent years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Sichuan and Hong Kong have closely collaborated and yielded rich achievements in exchanges and cooperation across various fields, laying a robust foundation for further deepening collaboration between the two sides. Looking forward, we will fully implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the policy of One Country, Two Systems, work together with Hong Kong to promote the integration and linkage between the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and jointly contribute greater strength to the building of a strong country and the realization of national rejuvenation. It is hoped that the two sides will fully leverage the role of the Sichuan-Hong Kong Conference cooperation mechanism, deepen and expand comprehensive collaboration in various fields, including trade and investment, culture and tourism, education and sci-tech, financial services and logistics, and achieve a higher level of complementary advantages and mutual benefits.

Wang Xiaohui noted that the central government has again presented a pair of giant pandas as a gift to the HKSAR, fully demonstrating the care and support for HKSAR. Sichuan, renowned as the native habitat of giant pandas, has contributed the giant pandas presented by the central government to Hong Kong, all originating from the province. These pandas serve as special envoys and symbols of friendship between the people of Sichuan and Hong Kong. Under the unified arrangements of the central government, we will fully cooperate to ensure that the giant pandas will be sent to Hong Kong and introduced to Hong Kong compatriots as soon as possible.

John Lee Ka-chiu expressed gratitude for Sichuan's support for Hong Kong's work and praised Sichuan's achievements in promoting high-quality development. He said that Hong Kong and Sichuan exhibit strong economic complementarities, with extensive prospects for enhancing and broadening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two regions. The HKSAR government will focus on serving the overall development of the country, give full play to Hong Kong's distinctive advantages in close connection with the world market and strong support from the motherland under the policy of One Country, Two Systems, leverage the Sichuan-Hong Kong Conference cooperation mechanism, continuously strengthen deep cooperation in various fields, and promote mutual prosperity and development for both Sichuan and Hong Kong. We are fully committed to making all necessary preparations to welcome the giant pandas.

Attendees included Chen Wei, Pubu Dunzhu, relevant officials of the HKSAR government, relevant leading officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and heads of relevant provincial departments, among others.