Diplomats laud HK's Northern Metropolis

Hong Kong-based foreign diplomats on Wednesday praised the Northern Metropolis as a "well-planned, well-executed and futuristic" project, saying it offers broad opportunities for international cooperation after visiting the new township.

About 70 representatives from foreign consulates in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including consuls general and designated consuls general, joined a tour organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR to learn about the project's development progress.

The delegation visited facilities at the Hong Kong park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone — also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park — as well as the Community Liaison Centre for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area. They learned about the area's industrial development, functional zoning, construction progress, connectivity with Shenzhen and plans to promote innovation and technology.

Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, told the delegation that the Northern Metropolis is "not a project that Hong Kong can or should build alone", emphasizing its significance for Hong Kong's future and that of the diplomats' respective countries.

Cui said the tour aimed to provide "clarity" and demonstrate "cooperation and commitment". He said he hoped the visit would give a clear picture of the project's current status and potential, showcase Hong Kong's commitment to developing the Northern Metropolis into an engine of economic and social development under the "one country, two systems" principle, and attract broad international cooperation.

Federico Lage Cabeza, Uruguay's consul general in Hong Kong, said he was impressed by the project's comprehensive planning, which encompasses not only infrastructure and new spaces for businesses and residents, but also Hong Kong's role in the future economy and its integration into and contribution to national development.

Noting that Uruguay serves as a South American hub for business and innovation, Lage Cabeza said the Northern Metropolis could provide new opportunities for Uruguayan companies, while helping Hong Kong businesses expand into Latin America through Uruguay.

He said the consulate general would recommend that future Uruguayan delegations visiting Hong Kong tour the Northern Metropolis to identify opportunities, meet stakeholders and explore concrete cooperation projects.

Riaz Ahmed Shaikh, Pakistan's consul general in Hong Kong, said he had visited the new township's logistics center, apartments and information technology facilities, describing the project as a futuristic landmark with significant potential, particularly in its integration with Shenzhen.

He also praised the cluster-based approach in planning, which links industrial supply chains with research capabilities.

Shaikh said Pakistan was developing several science and technology parks and looked forward to working with the Northern Metropolis, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

Anatoly Kargapolov, Russia's consul general in Hong Kong, said he believed Hong Kong was "moving in the right direction, and the result is already visible". He said he was particularly impressed by the speed with which the new town had been planned and developed. Beyond innovation and technology, he saw considerable potential for cooperation between Russia and the HKSAR in education.

Kargapolov said universities in Russia and Hong Kong already operated joint programs, and the number of Russian students in the city had increased every year. He expressed hope that the two sides could expand their educational exchanges once the university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis were fully developed.

amberwu@chinadailyhk.com