Wang praises Hong Kong's role in national development during 40 years of economic liberalization

The central government's top liaison official in the special administrative region has urged Hong Kong to seize the opportunities created by the nation's latest advances on its reform and opening-up.

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, made the call at the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit (Hong Kong) on Thursday.

 

He said the reform and opening-up policy has brought immense changes to the nation as a whole, as reflected in increased productivity, enhanced living standards and opening minds.

The robust economic growth has also enabled China to become the "engine" for the global economy, with the world's second-largest economy having contributed about one-third to the world's economic growth since 2012.

Hong Kong, a significant platform connecting the nation and world, has contributed a lot to national development during the 40 years since the policy was launched, and also benefited from it, said Wang.

Under the country's new round of reform and opening-up, which will be wider and deeper, Wang hopes the SAR could grasp the opportunities to achieve greater success.

Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor noted that China has developed at an "astonishing" speed since it adopted the opening-up policy.

"What has impressed me most in the past 40 years is that on top of pursuing development ourselves, the nation is also actively embracing the world with its own contributions," she said.

Besides economic performance, China has made a great impact on the global political arena, technology and environment protection.

Citing the ongoing inaugural China International Import Expo in Shanghai as an example, Lam said the country's first national-level import-themed expo has attracted more than 3,600 enterprises from more than 172 countries and regions.

Describing the event as a "breakthrough", she felt "glorious" that Hong Kong could play a role in it, with more than 160 enterprises from the SAR participating. A 126-square-meter Hong Kong exhibition area was set up to showcase the city's gateway to foreign trade.

As the nation opens up further, Lam hopes Hong Kong youths could equip themselves with an international outlook and tap opportunities beyond the city.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Baodong called on Hong Kong's youngsters to grasp the "historic" opportunities offered by the nation's two pivotal strategies - the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Other guests at the event included Xie Feng, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; Henry Tang Ying-yen, the SAR's former chief secretary for administration and now a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Launched in 2009, the forum has explored social issues extensively. This year's event was co-organized by the Boao Forum for Asia and local youth group, the Y.Elites Association. More than 1,500 guests, including political and business leaders, specialists and scholars from Hong Kong and overseas, also took part.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 11/09/2018 page4)