Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who is on a trip to the mainland till next Tuesday, signed agreements on 12 projects with Sichuan including those on economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, Chinese medicine and education.

One of them is to offer training and internship programs for Hong Kong youngsters at the Wolong National Nature Reserve – home to endangered pandas – and to launch cultural trips to Sichuan.

To support Hongkongers' entrepreneurship in Sichuan, the collaboration will also support SAR youngsters to start businesses in Sichuan and organize innovative and entrepreneurial projects.

Furthermore, the SAR will support the MTR Corporation in strengthening cooperation with Chengdu Rail Transit Group on the railway system.

It will also invite Sichuan Opera troupes to perform in the Chinese Opera Festival in Hong Kong, and for Sichuan to organize exhibitions on cultural relics, delicacies, intangible cultural heritage and lantern crafts in Hong Kong.

During her trip, Lam brought up the anti-fugitive unrest in 2019 and said the riots had harmed mainland compatriots’ feelings, but added Hong Kong has returned to the right track.

Sichuan party secretary Peng Qinghua said Sichuan’s high-speed rail to Hong Kong has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but he is looking forward to deepening cooperation with the SAR when borders reopen.

Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai also joined the trip.