HONG KONG - The Chinese central government and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed?on Friday a new supplement to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, aiming to enhance trade and economic cooperation and exchanges.

The supplement, the ninth of its kind, was signed by Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce Jiang Yaoping and Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang.

Supplement IX to CEPA provides for a total of 43 measures for services liberalization and trade and investment facilitation, including 37 liberalization measures in 22 service sectors. It is aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas of finance, trade and investment facilitation, and promoting the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the mainland and Hong Kong.