Chinese Vice Premier Calls for Closer Ties Between Mainland, Hong Kong

Posted August 16th, 2011 at 7:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has called for closer economic cooperation between China and Hong Kong, on his three-day visit to the territory.

Li said Tuesday he has brought some new policy measures from the central government to support Hong Kong's further development and to boost cooperation. Details are expected in a speech he will deliver on Wednesday.

Li, who is widely expected to succeed Premier Wen Jiabao next year, met with Hong Kong's chief executive Donald Tsang and 30 business and industrial leaders Tuesday. He also visited an elderly day care center and some local residents in their homes to learn about their livelihood.

China's Ministry of Finance is expected to sell $3 billion worth of yuan-denominated bonds Wednesday in Hong Kong, which would be the largest issue of such bonds in the city.

China increasingly has been using Hong Kong as a laboratory for efforts to develop the yuan as an international currency.