Premier Li Qiang inspected the Hong Kong exhibition area at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Wednesday, where Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu briefed him on the city’s progress and its recent successes in key global rankings across various sectors.

The expo, which began on Wednesday and runs through Monday, attracted a record-breaking participation of over 380 Hong Kong companies. Lee, leading a high-level delegation, arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday for the event.

After the opening ceremony of the eighth CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, Lee accompanied Li on a tour of the Hong Kong exhibition area.

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In a social media post, Lee said that during their discussion, he highlighted Hong Kong’s recent international rankings and its strengths in areas such as the economy, competitiveness, financial prowess, higher education, and legal services.

Hong Kong maintains its status as the world’s freest economy, ranking third globally in the Global Financial Centres Index and in the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook. It is also the second-most preferred seat of arbitration worldwide. Additionally, five Hong Kong universities are positioned among the world’s top 100.

Lee said that these achievements demonstrate the city’s progress in its governance and economic development, as well as continuous improvement in residents’ livelihoods, under the “one country, two systems” principle, with strong national support.

Lee added that his administration will further unite sectors and leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to contribute to the nation’s development.

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According to Lee, the participating companies reported that the expo boosted their visibility. He said the event serves as a successful platform not only for showcasing products to the Chinese mainland market, but also for expanding business networks with international traders.

The city also set up the Hong Kong Food Pavilion and Hong Kong Service Pavilion at the expo. Over 20 out of the 50 firms participating in these pavilions were first-time exhibitors.

On Wednesday evening, Lee participated in a dinner dialogue with Hong Kong residents living in Shanghai and representatives from Hong Kong companies. He encouraged them to serve as bridges between Hong Kong and the mainland and to share Hong Kong’s success stories.

On Thursday, Lee will chair the Hong Kong — The Ideal Platform for Mainland Enterprises in Going Global Promotion Conference. This event marks the first major publicity initiative on the mainland organized by the government’s new task force supporting mainland enterprises in their global expansion. Lee will also meet with local officials to strengthen cooperation during his visit to Shanghai.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com