Zhongguancun and HK science parks sign deal

The Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Science Park signed a cooperation agreement with Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corp on Monday, marking a deepened strategic collaboration for innovation between the advanced talent zones of both sides.

This follows the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and the exchange of information signed between Zhongguancun and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd in October 2010, which brought the two sides to a long-term cooperation and win-win situation on the basis of reciprocity, said Guo Hong, director of the Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Science Park.

As one of the nation's first and top high-tech hubs that was approved by the State Council back to 1988, Zhongguancun is now playing an important role in the construction of national scientific and financial systems. Over the past few decades, the Chinese Silicon Valley has bred and gathered over 20,000 high-tech enterprises, including world famous brands like Lenovo and Baidu.

Having become a paradise for those with aspirations and abilities, Guo said Zhongguancun continues to attract entrepreneurs and investors to have a foothold in the industry.

The cooperation with Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks is expected to strengthen communication between the two talent zones, and will jointly promote scientific and technological innovation and achievement of the two sides, according to Guo.

Anthony Tan, chief executive officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, said the company, which is fully funded by the Hong Kong government, has been on one hand promoting the development of local high-tech enterprises, and on the other hand assisting overseas companies within the industry to carry forward business to the mainland.

The MOU signed this time marks "complementary advantages and a win-win situation" for both sides, which will "play a key role in strengthening the cooperation of high-tech industry between Hong Kong and Beijing," according to Tan.

With a solid cooperative base between the two cities, Guo also noted that Hong Kong companies have become one of the major sources in the high-tech zone.

As of the end of 2011, there were 423 Hong Kong enterprises in Zhongguancun, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total 1,744 overseas capital-funded enterprises in the zone. Hong Kong enterprises have realized a total income of 185.52 billion yuan, accounting for 29.8 percent of the total income generated by overseas capital, or 9.4 percent of the total income in Zhongguancun.

Several chairpersons of listed companies from Zhongguancun also met with dozens of securities and investment institutions in Hong Kong on Monday. As of today, 24 companies from Zhongguancun have successfully listed in the city.

Beijing government on Monday also kicked off promotional activities in Hong Kong in a bid to attract more qualified overseas talents to the capital city of China.

The special events for talents have become a routine program since the 14th cooperation symposium between the two cities in 2010. During the past two years, talents exchange between Beijing and Hong Kong has achieved notable fruits under the cooperation framework, said Yan Cheng, vice-director of the CPC Beijing municipal committee's organization department.

Youth federations and universities from Beijing and Hong Kong also signed up personnel exchanges and cooperation agreements in the city on Monday.