Secretary for Justice Paul Lam led a cross-professional delegation comprising members of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution sectors, as well as the financial and accounting sectors, to commence its first leg of a visit to Urumqi, Xinjiang, today.
In the morning, the delegation attended the Exchange Meeting on Opportunities and Strategies for Chinese Enterprises “Going Global” and the Opening Ceremony of the Hong Kong Common Law and Dispute Resolution Practical Training Course organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that Xinjiang serves as a pivotal gateway connecting Mainland enterprises to Central Asia and extending their reach into Europe. Its foreign trade volume has repeatedly surpassed the RMB100 billion mark in recent years.
He highlighted that as cross-border trade and investment become increasingly frequent, enterprises face a complex and ever-changing international landscape alongside rigorous compliance requirements, making professional legal services crucial to their overseas expansion.
He added that this practical training course was timely as it focused on the opportunities and risks associated with Chinese enterprises going global. The course covered three core themes – the unique value of the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong’s common law system; Hong Kong court litigation procedures and international arbitration practices; and practical issues and arbitration clauses relevant to Chinese enterprises expanding into Central Asia – all designed to help Mainland enterprises understand and leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages and professional services as they navigate global markets.
Mr Lam then attended a plaque-unveiling ceremony for a partnership association set up between Urumqi and Hong Kong law firms, witnessing further exchanges and professional collaboration between the legal sectors of the two places.
In the afternoon, he met with the Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee Chen Xiaojiang, to brief him on the latest progress of Hong Kong’s work on aligning with the country’s planning. They also exchanged views on strengthening co-operation between the two places.
Mr Lam then met with the Party Secretary of the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Liu Jiansheng, and the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director-General of the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Naibijiang Yibulayimu, to discuss topics such as further promoting the training, exchange and co-operation of legal professionals between Xinjiang and Hong Kong, as well as how Hong Kong’s professional services can assist Xinjiang enterprises in going global.
He also visited a themed exhibition in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to learn more about Xinjiang’s development achievements.
The delegation will depart for Almaty, Kazakhstan tomorrow to continue its visit.