Date Created: 16 September 2011
"Thanks to this visit we have strengthened our collaboration with Hong Kong and are opening up possibilities for the future" – Anne MacColl, Chief Executive, Scottish Development International
Scotland will strengthen its economic, education, cultural and sporting links with Hong Kong, after First Minister Alex Salmond and other Scottish ministers discussed closer collaboration with the city's Chief Executive Donald Tsang on his first official visit to this country.
During the visit, on Wednesday September 15, both sides agreed to explore collaborative innovation and technology projects to help boost economic growth, as well as using their respective investment agencies to encourage more trade between Scotland and Hong Kong.
The Scottish Government also extended an invite to the Hong Kong Environment Bureau to visit Scotland and exchange ideas on areas of common interest such as climate change, the low carbon economy, waste management and green transport.
Fostering academic exchange
Education links were strengthened, with commitment to conduct further high-level discussions on issues such as recognition of qualifications and curriculum reform.
It was also agreed to encourage greater collaboration between universities in Scotland and Hong Kong, with new opportunities for faculty and student exchanges, joint programme delivery and shared research to be explored.
Speaking after his meeting with Donald Tsang, First Minister Alex Salmond said that the meetings would see, "Scotland and Hong Kong forge greater trade links as well as explore how our respective education systems can work in partnership to promote collaborative research, more student and faculty exchanges and learn from each other on areas such as curriculum reform."
Culture and sporting connections
During Mr Tsang's visit, it was also confirmed that a cultural delegation from Hong Kong would visit Edinburgh during next year's festival to discuss increased cultural co-operation.
Both sides agreed to encourage their representative sporting organisations to foster deeper connections, and consider how this collaboration could be used to benefit the wider community in Scotland and Hong Kong.
The Hon. Donald Tsang said:"Apart from financial services and trade, there is much potential in strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and Scotland.
"For instance, innovation, technology, culture, sports, education services are some of Hong Kong's growth industries where Scotland also holds enormous expertise. We will be sending delegations from these fields to Scotland to pursue this."
Anne MacColl, Chief Executive, Scottish Development International, said: "Both Scotland and Hong Kong have key strengths in education, culture and sports and we're keen to share experiences and to learn from the dynamic growth that Hong Kong is currently enjoying.
"It's our job to show Hong Kong why Scotland is the ideal place to do business and invest in and to highlight all that Scottish companies have to offer, ultimately boosting our economy.
"Thanks to this visit we have strengthened our collaboration with Hong Kong and are opening up possibilities for the future."
The Hon. Donald Tsang is the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
During his official visit, Mr Tsang attended a breakfast meeting with Education Secretary Michael Russell and representatives of Scotland's education sector, including Universities Scotland, and SQA.
Later, he joined Finance Secretary John Swinney and business representatives at a financial and business services conference – "Hong Kong - China's Global Financial Centre".
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