March 28, eNorth: This morning, the exhibition hall on the third floor of Hong Kong Exhibition Center which is located near Wan Chai Sea, the core and busiest region of Hong Kong, was nicely decorated with colourful flowers and ribbons, and crowded with VIPs. The opening ceremony of "2001 Tianjin Week in Hong Kong" was held here.

Mr. Li Shenglin, Mayor of Tianjin, made an opening speech. Mr. Jiang Enzhu, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR etc. participated the ceremony. Mr. Donald Tsang Yam Kuen, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong and the President of Hong Kong Trade and Development Council Si Zuxiang also made speech in the ceremony to express their warm congratulations to the opening of "2001 Tianjin Week in Hong Kong". Li Shenglin, Jiang Enzhu and Donald Tsang Yam Kuen announced the opening of "Tianjin Week". The ceremony was hosted by Vice Mayor of Tianjin Wang Shuzu. The Chairman of Tianjin Federation of Industry & Commerce Zhu Wenju attended it.

In his opening speech, Mr. Li Shenglin, representing Tianjin Municipal Government and Tianjin people, expressed his warm greetings to Hong Kong people and hearty appreciation to Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and all the Hong Kong departments who offerred great support to "2001 Tianjin Week in Hong Kong". Mr. Li said that Tianjin is the biggest open coastal city in Northern China and the economic center of Bohai Sea rim. Having opened to the outside world for over 20 years, Tianjin has made great development. With the beginning of the new century, Tianjin's economic and social development entered a new era. "We will try our best to construct Tianjin to a modern international port metropolis and the economic center of China. We will try to establish a relatively perfect Market Economic System in Tianjin and make Tianjin one of the first regions in China that achieve modernization." Mr. Li said.

Mr. Li said that Tianjin and Hong Kong had a long historical and tight connection. Hong Kong is the economic belt connecting China and the world, the window of importing overseas fund and technology and the bridge of economic and cultural communicating with other countries in the world. Tianjin's steady social environment, abundant natural resources, convenient transportation networks, strong ability of constructing the related infrastructure, apparent advantage of talents and the growing market offer a wide development space for Hong Kong investors to invest in mainland China. For many years, the amount of the enterprises and fund from Hong Kong in Tianjin is on the top list among all the countries and regions that invest in Tianjin. In the new century, Tianjin would like to seek new cooperation in wider range and more fields with Hong Kong and all the other countries and regions in the world. We hope the "2001 Tianjin week in Hong Kong" can make new contribution to the prosperity and development of Tianjin and Hong Kong.

In the ceremony, Mr.Tsang Yam-kuen, who represent HKSAR Chief Executive Ting Chee Hwa, expressed his congratulations to the opening of "2001 Tianjin Week In Hong Kong". He said that HKSAR government hosted "Hong Kong Week in Tianjin" in last year and got powerful support from Tianjin municipal government and public. Whatever "Hong Kong Week" or "Tianjin Week", the activities between this two cities reflect their wishes of promoting economic and culture communication. Deep economic relations and industrial structure mutual-supplement provide a good foundation for developing economic-trading cooperation. After China's entry to WTO, the investment market and commodity market will have to open to the world. Having rich experience in importing foreign capital, Tianjin will be able to get the great chance to develop industry and trade. At last, He hoped Hong Kong in this historical moment can strengthen the partner relations with Tianjin and other inland cities for co-development.

The guests in the opening ceremony also include: Vice-director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Mr.Liu Shanzai, Convenor of HKSAR Executive Council Mr LEUNG Chun-ying, President of Legislative Council Hon Mrs Rita FAN HSU Lai-tai, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs OF the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr.Cui Zhanqiao，Member of NPC Standing Committee Mr.Zeng Xianzi, Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Dr. Robin Chan Yau-hing, Chairman of Sino-Thailand Newspaper Journalists Public Foundation and Advisor of Municipal Government Mr.Chen Shixian, Director of Bank of China Hong Kong-Macau Regional Office Mr.Liu Jinbao, Advisor of China Resources Company Mr.Gu Yongjiang, President of Henderson (Group) Co. Ltd and Advisor of Municipal Economic Affairs Dr.LEE Shau Kee, Director of Shanghai Chamber (Hong Kong) and Advisor of Municipal Financial and Stock Mr.Li Hesheng, Supervisor of Shanghai Chamber (Hong Kong) and Shanghai Municipal Dress Industry Mr.Zhang Yuwen, Honorary Advisor of Shanghai Chamber(Hong Kong) and advisor of Municipal Financial and Insurance Mr.Jin Ruxin and Solicitor of Zuweishi Solicitors and law-advisor of Municipal Economic Affair Miss Chen Qingxia. Almost thousands of people from Industry, Trade and Mass Media around Hong Kong, Macao Taiwan and other countries in the world attended the opening ceremony.

After the ceremony, guests visited the pictures and objects in the exhibition hall. After the exhibition, Tianjin municipal government hosted a banquet to thank the support to "Tianjin Week" of various circles in Hong Kong.