HKETO, Brussels hosts HKSAR 25th anniversary luncheon and business seminar in Lisbon, Portugal (with photos)
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In his welcoming remarks, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Mr Eddie Cheung, spoke about Hong Kong's advantages amid one of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely the tendency for countries to become more inward-looking and less trusting.
"Now, it is the right time to reinforce globalisation, to build trust and multilateralism," Mr Cheung said. "Hong Kong is a founding member of the World Trade Organization. We have supported multilateralism from day one. There are no tariffs in Hong Kong, and we are a platform for international exchanges of business, culture and people."
Mr Cheung added, "More co-operation, more international trust will benefit not just one side but be a multilateral benefit." The seminar, with high-level speakers from both the government and business sectors, from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Europe, has exemplified the value and importance of international co-operation, he said.
The event, attracting close to 200 guests, was organised in co-operation with the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, the Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHKCCI) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The speakers and moderators included (in alphabetical order):
- Regional Director for Europe, Central Asia & Israel of the HKTDC, Mr Silas Chu;
- Former Portuguese Secretary of State of Internationalization Mr Jorge Costa Oliveira;
- Deputy CEO of HSBC Continental Europe, Mr Chris Davies;
- Acting Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Francis Ho;
- Vice-President of the PHKCCI, Mr Óscar Madureira;
- President of the PHKCCI, Mr Bernardo Mendia;
- Minister of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union, Mr Peng Gang;
- Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Phillips ;
- Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, Mr Hans Poulis;
- CEO of Trilogi, Mr Màrius Rossell;
- Portuguese entrepreneur Mr Tim Vieira;
- Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union and Chairman of Bank of China (Europe) SA, Mr Xu Haifeng; and
- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, Mr Zhao Bentang.
Ends/Friday, June 10, 2022
Issued at HKT 22:33
Issued at HKT 22:33
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