Wondering what is the primary objective of Vice-Premier Li Keqiang’s current visit to Hong Kong? There is no doubt it is intended to boost the city’s economy and push forward cooperation between the SAR and the mainland by implementing in detail the supportive policies outlined in the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

The vice-premier delivered a keynote speech at a forum on economic, trade and financial cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland on Wednesday morning. As many people here expected, he brought Hong Kong a rich gift in the form of supportive policies aimed at further expanding and deepening cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong. The policies covered six major areas: the mainland will open up the service trade (medical, construction and other sectors) to Hong Kong; enhancing Hong Kong’s position as a global financial center; supporting the SAR to develop into an offshore renminbi center; supporting Hong Kong in its efforts to take part in global as well as regional economic cooperation; helping companies from Hong Kong and the mainland jointly explore overseas markets; and helping Hong Kong play a crucial role in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation.

It is exciting to see that these measures are more committed and realistic than we had expected. As people on the mainland like to say these days, every single one of them is the “real deal”.

That said, it would be too narrow-minded to view Vice-Premier Li’s intent as merely offering Hong Kong some great gifts.

The 12th Five-Year Plan gives Hong Kong a chapter of its own to spell out its position and role in the national development strategy, and set down the direction and goal for three-pronged efforts to help the SAR by supporting its drive to be more competitive, to nurture new growth industries and to deepen economic cooperation between the city and the mainland.

Needless to say, pointing out the direction alone is not enough and the goal must not remain just words on paper. These must be translated into action in order that the policies are implemented step by step.

Based on this understanding it is not hard to see why Li has come here with several heads of central government departments in charge of economic affairs. He aims to strike the iron while hot, to introduce detailed measures for concrete implementation of the policies he has announced, according to the direction set out in the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Let’s put it like this: Li has just summarized in a pragmatic manner the policies spelled out in the 12th Five-Year Plan on supporting Hong Kong economy and promoting cooperation between the SAR and the mainland.

The author is a senior political affairs commentator.