The Beijing Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium, founded in 1997, has become a key platform for economic and trade cooperation between the two cities, creating more opportunities for young people.

During the past 28 years, the event has seen the signing of 650 project contracts with a combined value exceeding $120 billion. It has helped Beijing better leverage Hong Kong's advantages as a global financial hub and international gateway, while Hong Kong has benefited from the capital's vast market and supportive policies, insiders said.

In collaboration with the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Center, the Hong Kong Productivity Council launched the Beijing-Hong Kong Research and Development Acceleration Center at the symposium's 27th session in 2024 and signed agreements with four enterprises from Beijing.

Drawing on the strengths of the two institutions, the center is bringing together top resources from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao to advance breakthroughs in areas such as smart life, aerospace technology, and life sciences, while boosting industrial competitiveness.

Among the four companies is Beijing Tashan Technology, a leading Chinese manufacturer of artificial intelligence tactile-sensing chips.

Such tech cooperation has benefited not only companies but young people from both cities, said Ma Yang, CEO of the company.

"Young entrepreneurs in Beijing can align their products and services with international standards in Hong Kong, thereby improving their technological strengths and capabilities. Meanwhile, young people in Hong Kong gain more opportunities as a growing number of companies in the Chinese mainland look to enter overseas markets," he said.

By the end of March, the company and the council had jointly initiated four embodied-intelligence projects, with additional projects in preparation, according to Ma.

Established in 2018, the Beijing-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cup has been held annually since then as a key part of the symposium.

Through its deep integration with the Zhongguancun International Advanced Technology Competition, the event has showcased numerous excellent sci-tech projects from both regions, fostered exchanges between young people, and stimulated their innovation vitality, said Li Zhilei, a senior official from the Beijing Science and Technology Commission.

Beijing and Hong Kong have launched an array of collaborative projects in recent years in fields such as finance, technology, intellectual property, urban governance, and public services. These include Beijing Metro Line 14, the second-phase extension of the Indigo commercial complex in Chaoyang district, and the Kong King Research Institute, jointly established by the Beijing city government and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of Hong Kong.

From 2020 to September 2025, Hong Kong's actual investment in Beijing reached $57.49 billion, accounting for 81.1 percent of the capital's total actual utilized foreign capital.

In the first three quarters, the trade volume between the two cities stood at 129.99 billion yuan ($18.32 billion), an increase of 81.4 percent year-on-year.