One of Jilin's many ski resorts. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Before the Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference & Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Event, Huang Qiang, Party secretary of Northeast China's Jilin province, received an interview from Hong Kong Commercial Daily, where he introduced Jilin's abundant produce, tourism resources, and cooperation prospects with Hong Kong and Macao.

Huang shared insights into why ginseng was chosen as the event's focus. "All Chinese people know ginseng is something truly valuable – not only for health and healing, but also as both food and medicine," he said. "And the best ginseng in the world comes from the Changbai Mountain."

Huang highlighted Jilin's strategic efforts in developing the ginseng industry. With a high-quality development plan and cutting-edge technology, the province has tackled long-standing market issues such as ginseng's age verification. "We've reduced the margin of error to under six months," he said. Last year, the total output value of Jilin's ginseng industry exceeded 80 billion yuan ($11.04 billion).

"We bring over 20 enterprises from Jilin with more than 100 ginseng-based products to Hong Kong this time, spanning food, medicine, beverages, supplements, and cosmetics. Among them are classic favorites like ginseng-infused soap and vanishing cream, carefully selected for quality and market appeal," he said.

When asked about Jilin's rising popularity among tourists from Hong Kong and Macao, Huang emphasized the province's all-season beauty and high-quality natural resources including powdery snow and Changbai Mountain forests.

An artisanal work made from Songhua stone. [Photo/Jilin Daily]

Huang also introduced one of Jilin's cultural treasures: Songhua stone, a fine material from Changbai Mountain used to carve Songhua inkstones, which were imperial in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). "Alongside ginseng and mineral springs, Songhua stone is one of Changbai Mountain's three great treasures," he said.

Speaking on the significance of this visit to Hong Kong, Huang said that it is expected to have a lasting impact on driving Jilin's high-quality development and securing new breakthroughs in its vitalization.

Huang said that in developing cultural tourism and promoting consumption, Jilin, Hong Kong and Macao have truly complementary strengths, and that their development has always been closely connected, which creates boundless potential for further exchange and cooperation. "My goal is to realize high-quality development for Jilin and promote prosperity for its people," he said.