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Welcome Speech by Commissioner Liu Guangyuan at the Virtual Tour to the Greater Bay Area for Foreign Businesses in Hong Kong
2021-11-27 10:45

The Honorable Chief Executive Carrie Lam,

Deputy Head Huang Liuquan,

Vice Chairman Cong Liang,

Assistant Minister Wu Jianghao,

Foreign business friends in Hong Kong,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends both in person and online, 

Good morning! Welcome to the virtual tour to the Greater Bay Area for foreign businesses in Hong Kong.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative is a major national strategy personally planned, deployed, and promoted by President Xi Jinping. In over two years since the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area, the GBA has achieved remarkable results and taken on a new look, attracting close attention from the international community.

To meet the demand of foreign business friends in Hong Kong to visit and invest in the GBA, the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, together with the HKSAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government, jointly organize this virtual tour. 

We are very grateful for the high importance attached by the Chinese Central Government, guidance from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission, as well as support of Chief Executive Carrie Lam. 

This virtual tour will be a special journey of discovery and cooperation where you can see up-to-date progress in the GBA, hear authoritative explanation of latest policies, have your questions answered, and better explore and seize investment opportunities in the area. 

On the journey, you can also find China’s fresh achievements in adopting a new development vision and our pioneering efforts for win-win cooperation with the world. 

Through this activity, we wish to open a window, from which you can have a panoramic view of China’s progress.

First, you can see China’s determination to open wider to the world. 

In the face of rising protectionism as well as challenges and uncertainties to global recovery, the GBA stays its course of opening up. From financial opening-up like the Wealth Management Connect Scheme, to the major cooperation platforms such as Qianhai in Shenzhen, Hengqin in Zhuhai and Nansha in Guangzhou, China has been making unprecedented breakthroughs in the GBA. 

These practical measures have proved to the world that whatever the international situation evolves, we will not change our resolve to open wider at a high standard; we will not change our determination to share development opportunities with the world; and we will not change our commitment to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

Second, you can see China’s opportunities in fostering a new development paradigm. 

As a key hub of China’s dual-circulations economic strategy, the GBA is favorable in its well-developed advantages and geographical position, thus increasingly attracting global investors. 

The GBA is home to one-fifth of China’s unicorn enterprises, dozens of Global 500, considerable global high-quality capitals, and a growing number of excellent Hong Kong youths and international talents. They have all taken the GBA as their “homeland” and a paradise of venture. 

An authoritative international organization predicted that the total economic output of the GBA will be over 4.6 trillion US dollars in 2030, making it a well-deserved destination for businesses investing and thriving.

Third, you can see Hong Kong’s strengths from getting on board the fast-train of China’s development. 

China is building a new development pattern and Hong Kong is an essential intersection and facilitator of both China’s domestic and international circulations. Hong Kong’s advantages, such as the steady financial market, free flow of capitals, sound legal environment and professional services will be brought into full play. What’s more, the positioning of Hong Kong in the 14th Five-Year Plan as an international financial, shipping and trading center and the global offshore RMB business hub will further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector”. 

Thanks to the the National Security Law and improved electoral system, Hong Kong has transformed from chaos to stability and prosperity, and is fully prepared to embrace opportunities from China’s new round of reform and opening up. 

The international community has been keenly aware that Hong Kong is a golden key to unlock the huge market in the GBA, as well as an unmissable station of taking the train of China’s high-speed development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Supporting Hong Kong’s exchanges and cooperation with the wider world is an important responsibility of the Commissioner’s Office. In the future, we will continue to serve Hong Kong through diplomacy and work together with Hong Kong people so as to contribute our share to Hong Kong’s development and prosperity. 

We will further build platforms for foreign businesses and support business friends to actively participate in the GBA through Hong Kong, so that you can share the dividends of the GBA and benefits of China’s development from Hong Kong’s integration into the overall national development.

Today in Hong Kong, let’s explore, with our eyes and ears through cameras, the growth momentum in the flourishing GBA and great opportunities in the growing China. 

Finally, I wish the virtual tour a complete success! 

Thank you!