Over 1,500 people attend the "SmartHK" forum on the first day of the 2018 Zhejiang-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Week in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The 2018 Zhejiang-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Week opened in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on May 16.

Through the event, the two regions aim to seek more collaboration opportunities in the economy, trade, science, technology and finance.

As an important part of the cooperation week, a forum themed on "SmartHK" was held on the first day, with attendees from over 60 Hong Kong enterprises and organizations. It provided a platform for businesspeople from both sides to get a better understanding of each other's economic development.

Paul Chan Mo-po, financial secretary of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, emphasized the achievements the region has made in scientific and technological innovation, infrastructure and talent cultivation. He stressed that Hong Kong and Zhejiang should partner up to seize the opportunities brought by the country's overall development.

"Hong Kong is an international financial center, as well as a vital link for Zhejiang to be connected with the outside world," said Zhu Congjiu, vice governor of Zhejiang province, adding the cooperation week would be a big opportunity for both regions.

"The future of the relations between Zhejiang and Hong Kong appear very bright, especially in the fields of the service industry, investment, free trade zones and the port economy," an official from Zhejiang's commerce department said.

On the sideline of the forum, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hangzhou government in a bid to further cooperation in the high-end service industries, including in financial investment and the logistics industry.