The view of Hong Kong Photo: VCG

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a delegation of high-level officials to Shanghai on Tuesday to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and a major promotion event, aiming to attract investment from the Chinese mainland and further push synergistic cooperation between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Key officials including Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah accompanied Lee, Radio Television Hong Kong reported on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Lee visited the Hong Kong Pavilion and talked with representatives of Hong Kong firms at the exhibition area, "promoting the support policies and encouraging them to leverage Hong Kong's strengths, seize the opportunities and actively integrate into the national development strategy," Lee said in a social media post.

The investment promotion event encourages more Shanghai enterprises to invest in Hong Kong, leveraging the city as a gateway to expand into the international market, Lee highlighted in another post on Monday.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will conduct in-depth presentations to financial and technology firms from the mainland that are interested in listing or developing their businesses in Hong Kong, the HKSAR government's Shanghai Office said on its official WeChat account.

"Shanghai boasts a strong market and resources, while Hong Kong stands as a global financial hub with abundant capital and professional services. This complementary nature significantly enhances their cooperation potential in trade, investment and finance," Liang Haiming, chairman of the Hong Kong-based China Silk Road iValley Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Among the participants at the CIIE, more than 300 Hong Kong exhibitors, representing 10 percent of the total, will showcase a diverse range of products and services across various sectors including food and agriculture, vehicles, technology equipment and consumer goods, demonstrating the city's all-around trade and services capabilities, according to the local government.

Hong Kong will also showcase the city's progress and competitive edges in a special exhibition area in the National Pavilion. Representatives from mainland and Hong Kong companies will discuss international finance, innovation, technology and professional services, aiming to leverage their mutual strengths for common prosperity.

Following a successful promotional conference in Beijing last month, this high-profile investment promotion event in Shanghai underscores the deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Lee noted the close ties between Shanghai and Hong Kong, emphasizing the outcomes from the 6th Greater Bay Area Cooperation Conference held in April, during which both sides reached a consensus on 15 cooperation areas and signed 20 cooperation agreements, creating favorable business conditions and opportunities for businesses.

"These collaborative efforts are already bearing fruit in various projects," he said in the post.

"The central government's support for Hong Kong continues to strengthen, and collaboration between Hong Kong and the mainland is deepening," said Liang, adding that the joint development will provide robust backing for the city's growth as a global financial and trade center.