Leung Chun-ying, a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference — China's top political advisory body — has called for further expansion of cooperation and exchanges between Guangdong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to achieve high-quality development.

"As an international economic hub with a high degree of openness, Hong Kong can assist Guangdong manufacturers in finding the right markets around the world and selling their high-quality products at competitive prices," Leung, who was the chief executive of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2017, said.

Highlighting Hong Kong's role as a super connector between the mainland and the rest of the world, Leung emphasized the potential for Guangdong and mainland companies to leverage Hong Kong's infrastructure to facilitate global expansion of their products.

Leung made the remarks while answering questions from the media during a visit to the Nansha New Area of Guangzhou, Guangdong's provincial capital, on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a delegation that included members of the Consultative Committee on Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation (Guangzhou Nansha), experts and representatives of business organizations from Hong Kong, Leung explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

In addition to engaging in meetings and exchanges with local government and business executives, the delegation visited high-tech companies to gain insights into the latest developments in Nansha's construction and development.

Leung said there is ample room for Guangdong and Hong Kong to broaden their cooperation and exchanges to achieve mutually beneficial collaboration.

Hong Kong's well-developed tertiary industry, encompassing the finance, commerce and service sectors, complements Nansha's advanced agricultural and manufacturing industries, he said.

Encouraging more Hong Kong companies to visit Nansha and Guangdong to explore economic opportunities and consider establishing branches on the Chinese mainland, Leung highlighted the growing trend of Hong Kong residents traveling north for shopping and consumption.

"More Hong Kong companies should seize opportunities to establish restaurants and related physical stores in Shenzhen and across Guangdong to meet demand," he said.

Fang Zhou, research director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute, said cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong has entered a new stage, extending into livelihood fields and projects such as education and healthcare.

Fang called for innovative cooperation in rules and systems, including mutual recognition of professional certificates, to promote comprehensive collaboration and establish a Guangdong-Hong Kong integration zone.

Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, emphasized the potential for Hong Kong and Nansha to drive digital transformation and upgrade industries through cooperation in scientific innovation, saying it could contribute to high-level opening-up to the outside world.