China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport at around 11:18 a.m. local time on Tuesday to start a three-day inspection tour to this Special Administrative Region.

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang waves to crowds upon his arrival at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday. He was greeted by senior officials of Hong Kong led by Chief Executive Donald Tsang (first right). [Photo/China Daily]

Stepping off the plane, Li was greeted by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Donald Tsang and Director of the Liaison Office of the Chinese Central People's Government in Hong Kong Peng Qinghua, among others.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told reporters at the airport that he had been to Hong Kong several times before, and this time he would mainly attend a forum on the 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015) for National Economic and Social Development and financial and trade cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong-related part in the 12th Five-Year Program, which was unveiled early this year, demonstrated the central government's care and support to Hong Kong's development, which Li said was necessary for the entire nation.

He said he was bringing some new measures to facilitate Hong Kong's development and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, which he would elaborate at the forum to be held on Wednesday.

Li said he will also attend celebrations marking the centennial anniversary of the founding of the University of Hong Kong, and some other activities.

The vice premier said he would use the visit to have as much interaction with all circles of Hong Kong as possible and talk to as many Hong Kong people as possible, so as to "deepen understanding of Hong Kong, feel new changes of Hong Kong and jointly envision Hong Kong's future."

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