HONG KONG, April 8 -- Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung on Tuesday urged lawmakers to cherish the opportunities to meet with Central Government officials during this week's Shanghai visit.

Nearly 60 lawmakers from Hong Kong Legislative Council will jointly travel to Shanghai for a visit from April 12 to 13. Leung will leave Hainan for Shanghai to join parts of the visit those lawmakers after attending the Bo'ao Forum.

Briefing reporters before an Executive Council meeting, Leung said it will be the first time all Legislative Council members have the chance to meet directly with the Hong Kong and Macau Office Director since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

He said it will pave the way for both sides to continue constructive dialogues.

Talking about the Bo'ao Forum, Leung said a pair of Bo'ao Forum sessions will describe Hong Kong's uniqueness, and the contributions it can make as the country's international financial center.

Leung said the government has invited People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan and China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Xiao Gang to speak at the sessions.

The forum is key for Hong Kong as participants will gain an understanding of the city's status as the country's global financial center, he said, as will the rest of the world through media reports generated at the event.