Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu extended on Monday his warmest welcome to Shi Taifeng, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who is on a visit and inspection of Hong Kong.

Lee met with Shi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, at Government House to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, according to a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government statement.

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Also attending the meeting were Executive Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee Chen Xiaojiang; Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zheng Yanxiong; Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee Lin Rui; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Nong Rong; Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki; Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po; Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung; Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho; Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen; and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip Man-Kuen.

Lee expressed his gratitude to Shi for visiting Hong Kong with his delegation to inspect the latest developments in the city, showing his care and concern for Hong Kong.

Noting the recent conclusion of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing, Lee said that the plenary session highlighted the need to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center.

He added that it also highlighted the need to support Hong Kong in building itself into an international hub for high-caliber talent and to improve relevant mechanisms for the city to play a greater role in the country's opening to the outside world while encouraging cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by fostering closer alignment of rules and mechanisms.

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Lee said that in addition to steering the country towards Chinese modernization and high-quality development, the plenary session also provided important guidance for the long-term development, prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

The HKSAR, including the government and all sectors of the community, should earnestly learn, have a thorough understanding of and implement the spirit of the plenary session and make active efforts to understand and embrace changes while staying proactive, pragmatic, principled, innovative, perseverant and dedicated, he added.

Lee noted that the HKSAR government will continue to fully and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" principle, focusing on creating strong impetus for growth, improving the HKSAR's governance system, resolutely implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and strengthening Hong Kong's patriotic forces with a love for the city.

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The HKSAR government will continue to actively promote efforts from different sectors of the community in leveraging Hong Kong's strengths to serve the country's needs to contribute to the building of a great country in all respects and advancing toward national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, Lee said.