(Handout via Xinhua Daily)

Some 30 startups and 60 exhibitors from Hong Kong participated in the event SmartHK, held in Nanjing on August 28.

The event was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organized by the Department of Commerce of Jiangsu Province as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government.

Over the past decade, Jiangsu and Hong Kong have expanded their cooperation to multiple areas including investment, trade, technology, finance and culture. To facilitate practical collaboration, the event included one-on-one matchmaking sessions between companies from the province and the city.

Hong Kong is Jiangsu's largest source of foreign investment and its seventh largest trading partner. As of July this year, Jiangsu hosted over 35,000 Hong Kong-invested enterprises, which contributed to 53% of the province's actual utilized foreign investment. Meanwhile, Jiangsu has established 2,400 enterprises in Hong Kong, accounting for 23% of the province's total overseas investment. Additionally, Jiangsu has 120 enterprises listed in Hong Kong.

In recent years, the Jiangsu-Hong Kong cooperation has expanded to cultural exchanges and youth development. Since 2019, the two sides have held a series of activities to introduce Jiangsu’s opera culture to Hong Kong, featuring popular performances of Kunqu, Xiju and Yangju operas.