【全球繁榮峰會歡迎晚宴】
我今晚很高興出席全球繁榮峰會歡迎晚宴。過去數月，於單邊主義、保護主義和經濟霸凌日益加劇下，貿易緊張局勢升溫為全球關稅戰。未來兩日舉行的全球繁榮峰會雲集 來自歐洲、北美洲和亞洲等國不同國際專家，當中包括曾任中國外交部、世界貿易組織及聯合國的前官員，期望通過促進民間交流強化香港擔任國家對外中介人的角色。
正如習近平主席在中國—拉美和加勒比國家共同體論壇部長級會議指出，關稅戰、貿易戰沒有贏家，霸凌、霸道只會孤立自身。習近平主席宣布一系列區域工程，以助中國和拉美和加勒比國家「守望相助、共克時艱」，措施包括透過「一帶一路」倡議，深化貿易合作和促進人文交流。香港憑藉其國際認可的金融和專業服務業，成為「一帶一路」的重要參與者，並將世界各地的經濟體、企業和人民聯繫一起，實現互利共贏。
香港既是 「超級聯繫人」 ，也是「超級增值人」。現今世界動盪，互聯互通更顯重要，而在經濟不確定的情況下，香港充當海納百川的金融港口。有賴我們的普通法體系和與世界許多主要金融中心接軌的法律系統，香港的資訊、資本、貨物和人員自由流通。世界各地經濟體正在尋求安全途徑促進經濟發展，香港繼續發揮過人優勢，成為公司及投資者探索內地和亞洲機遇的基地。
【Welcome Dinner for Global Prosperity Summit】
I am delighted to attend the welcome dinner of the Global Prosperity Summit tonight. Over the past few months, those “escalating trade tensions” have escalated into a full-blown global tariff war amidst mounting unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying. The Global Prosperity Summit, over the next two days, will gather various international experts from Europe, North America, Asia and other countries, some of whom are former officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Trade Organization and United Nations. With an aim to enhance the city’s role as an intermediary between Mainland China and the world, the summit will facilitate non-governmental dialogue and communication in the public arena.
As President Xi Jinping said at the China-CELAC1 Forum Ministerial Meeting, “there are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation”. President Xi announced a number of regional programmes to help China and Latin American and Caribbean states “unite in tough times to conquer challenges through mutual support”, with measures including deepening trade and co-operation through the Belt and Road Initiative and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Leveraging our internationally recognised financial and professional services sector, Hong Kong is a pivotal player in the Belt and Road and it brings economies, companies and peoples from all over the world together for mutual benefit.
Hong Kong is both a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. Given today’s global turmoil, connectivity has never been more important. In a time of economic uncertainty, Hong Kong serves as a welcoming financial harbour. Here, information, capital, goods and people flow freely due to our common law system and a legal regime similar to that of many of the world’s leading financial hubs. With economies everywhere seeking security and ways of boosting their economy, Hong Kong is proving highly attractive to them, serving as a base for companies and investors eager to explore opportunities in the Mainland and Asian markets.
