CHENGDU, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) plans to establish an officein Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province in 2006, an important step to tighten its relations with the country's inland areas.

    "The details of setting up the office is under negotiation," said Cui Zhiwei, head of the office dealing with the Hong Kong and Macao affairs under the provincial government of Sichuan on Monday.

    As cooperation between Hong Kong and Sichuan becomes closer, the Trade Development Council and the Tourism Board of Hong Kong have already set up office in Chengdu.

    "The new office of the HKSAR government will boost the good relationship between Hong Kong and Sichuan, promoting the economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the inland region," said Cui.

    Hong Kong has been top overseas investor in Sichuan for years. So far, Hong Kong-invested projects in Sichuan has exceeded 3,300 with a direct investment of more than 2.6 billion U.S. dollars, said Cui.

    In addition, nearly 130,000 Hong Kong tourists visited Sichuan in 2005, a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent, said the official. Enditem