Chinese president 'full of praise' for CY Leung's post-reform strategy for Hong Kong
President Xi Jinping has commended the work of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his government - according to Leung himself.
Xi was also "fully affirming" of Leung's strategy to focus on economic development and livelihood issues after the government's political reform plan could not get past the Legislative Council.
The president's comments were revealed by Leung yesterday after the two met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Manila.
It was also Leung's first official meeting with Xi since the Hong Kong government's failure to push through Legco in June the Beijing-devised electoral reform package for the city's 2017 chief executive poll - widely considered a major setback for the Leung administration.
Leung said he had reported the city's latest social, political and economic developments to the president.
"The central authorities fully affirm the [Hong Kong] government's shift of focus to developing the economy and improving livelihoods after the political reform issue ended."
But Xi did not give concrete ideas about what he should do to improve governance, he added.
Instead, Leung said, Xi urged Hong Kong to seize opportunities arising from the country's 13th five-year plan and its "One Belt, One Road" initiative, and to work with the mainland to plan its development in the next five to 10 years. The five-year plan released this month is China's development blueprint for 2016-2020.
Under the proposals, Beijing will "give full play to Hong Kong's unique advantages and enhance [the city's] role and function in the nation's economic development as well as opening up to the outside world".
"One Belt, One Road" is a push for cooperation among Eurasian countries along the ancient trading routes of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road.
Leung is in Manila to attend the Apec 2015 leaders' summit. He discussed economic issues with leaders of other member economies.
