Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will actively engage in economic cooperation with nine Chinese mainland provinces in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region (PPRD), the heads of both regions pledged on Wednesday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang and Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah called for closer ties among the PPRD region to buoy the economic growth amid the global economic turmoil.

Tsang said the Chinese mainland, especially the Pan-Pearl River Delta region -- comprising Guangdong, Yunnan, Fujian, Hainan, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macao -- provided vast investment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was among the largest investors in the mainland, with total investment of US$349.5 billion at the end of 2008,accounting for 40 percent of the total foreign investment.

He said because of the global economic downturn, Hong Kong-based enterprises were keen to tap into the mainland, especially the market of the PPRD region with a population of more than 400 million.

Hong Kong would also encourage businesses to move to central and western China, and as a financial center, Hong Kong would continue to provide financial services for mainland enterprises, he said.

As of the end of April, a total of 470 enterprises from the mainland were listed in Hong Kong, said Tsang.

Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao would strengthen ties in finance, services, tourism, city planning, technology and infrastructure.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah said the impact of the global economic turmoil was widespread and deep, and cooperation was the only way out.

Regional cooperation would help push economy back on track, he said.

He also said Macao would continue to boost tourism and seek cooperation with other provinces in the PPRD in the sector.

Macao would build it into a platform for cooperation among PPRD, Association of South East Asian Nations and Portuguese-speaking countries.

They were speaking at the 5th PPRD Regional Economic Forum and Trade Fair in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)