China’s Ministry of Commerce has vowed to support Hong Kong’s status as a separate customs territory, enabling the city to sign more free-trade pacts and broaden its partnerships, an official said on Wednesday.

The Hong Kong government and the ministry jointly held a forum to introduce the new agreement under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

Fan Shijie, director-general of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, delivered a speech during the event.

The ministry pledged to implement various preferential measures and strengthen cooperative openness under the agreement, Fan said.