China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (“CR” or “China Resources Group”) is a diversified holding company registered in Hong Kong. CR was first established as “Liow & Co.” in Hong Kong in 1938, and was later restructured and renamed as China Resources Company in 1948. In 1952, instead of being affiliated to the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, it came under the Central Trade Department (now known as the Ministry of Commerce). In 1983, it was again restructured into China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. In December 1999, CR was no longer linked to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and came under state management. In 2003, under the direct supervision of SASAC, it became one of the key state-owned enterprises.

In 1953, China Resources became the general trading agency for China's import-export companies in Hong Kong. During the period when Hong Kong’s trade volume took up one-third of total foreign trade volume in China, the company’s primary role was to arrange exports and guarantee a stable supply to Hong Kong as well as import essential supplies to mainland China. In 1983, China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (“CR” or “the group”) was established, gradually transforming from an integrated trading company to a diversified and industry-oriented holding enterprise in order to fit into the reform plans of the foreign trade ecosystem.

华润的前身是于1938年在香港成立的“联和行”。1948年联和进出口公司改组更名为华润公司。1952年隶属关系由中共中央办公厅转为中央贸易部（现为商务部）。1983年改组成立华润（集团）有限公司。1999年12月，与外经贸部脱钩，列为中央管理。2003年归属国务院国资委直接监管，被列为国有重点骨干企业。

1953年华润公司成为中国各进出口公司在香港总代理。在这一时期，华润的主要任务是组织对港出口，为内地进口重要物资，保证香港市场供应，贸易额曾占全国外贸总额的三分之一。1983年华润集团成立后，因应外贸体制改革的形势，企业逐渐从综合性贸易公司转型为以实业为核心的多元化控股企业集团。