HONG KONG, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said Sunday that Hong Kong and Australia have been working together proactively after the launch of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and she expects trade ties between the two sides to be promoted to a new height.
In a meeting with visiting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday afternoon, Lam said that Hong Kong and Australia have all along enjoyed strong economic ties, in which, as of last year, Hong Kong was Australia's fifth largest source of investment, sixth largest trading partner in services and seventh largest export market for goods, and with more than 600 Australian companies operating in Hong Kong.
Welcoming the launch of the FTA negotiations between Hong Kong and Australia in May this year, Lam said she is pleased to note that both sides have been working together proactively with a view to promoting the close trade and investment relations to a new height.
Turnbull's visit, which came after he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, is the first visit to Hong Kong by a serving Australian prime minister in more than 30 years, the HKSAR Chief Executive's Office said.
