Ivan Chu (front row, second from left) and senior Swire executives with Mr Zong Guoying (centre), Executive Vice Governor of Yunnan Province.

In April, a delegation from Yunnan Province, led by Executive Vice Governor Mr Zong Guoying, visited Swire's office at Pacific Place, during an official trip to Hong Kong. Mr Zong and his party were received by John Swire & Sons (China) Chairman, Ivan Chu, and senior executives from Swire Properties and Swire Beverages. Mr Zong took the opportunity to discuss the group's existing business interests in Yunnan – in particular, the new Swire Coca-Cola Beverages bottling plant in Kunming – and expressed the hope that Swire will continue to explore opportunities for investment in the region.

Meanwhile, in June, Mr Chu paid a courtesy call on Mr Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR. Mr Tan updated Mr Chu on recent policy developments affecting the SAR, including a new initiative to provide joint funding support from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance to promote scientific research and innovation in Hong Kong.