People visit the booth of Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) during the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, on Dec 1, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

HONG KONG - China's battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong Science Park.

Sun Dong said CATL's choice is a vote of confidence in Hong Kong's efforts to build an international innovation and technology hub and to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial center

Paul Chan Mo-po, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, extended welcome to CATL's decision to set up its international headquarters and research and development (R&D) center in Hong Kong.

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The new-term HKSAR government has been actively promoting the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry, he said, noting that the CATL's decision is very important for promoting such development.

Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the HKSAR government, said CATL's choice of Hong Kong as its international headquarters is a vote of confidence in Hong Kong's efforts to build an international innovation and technology hub and to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial center.

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Founded in 2011, CATL has set up 13 battery manufacturing bases around the globe. Its power battery shipments and energy storage battery shipments have ranked first in the world for six and two consecutive years, respectively.