‘Risen from the ashes’: Xi Jinping hails Hong Kong’s resilience, praises vitality of ‘one country, two systems’
- Xi Jinping says Hong Kong has ‘overcome risks and challenges one after another’, adds whole nation is celebrating handover anniversary with city
- President holds unprecedented meeting with officers from city’s disciplined services; move seen as showing appreciation for restoring law and order after turmoil of 2019
President Xi Jinping hailed Hong Kong for having “risen from the ashes” as he began his long-anticipated visit on Thursday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” governing principle for a “bright future”.
The president, who travelled to Hong Kong with first lady Peng Liyuan on a high-speed train from neighbouring Shenzhen, had a busy first day holding separate meetings with government officials, legislators, judges, representatives from the disciplined services, business leaders and others from various sectors.
“The whole Chinese nation is celebrating this happy occasion with Hong Kong residents,” Xi said in his opening remarks as he stepped off the train to a warm welcome by hundreds of flag-waving primary school pupils and others at the West Kowloon terminus on Thursday afternoon.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping greeted by Carrie Lam and disciplined services in Hong Kong
Departing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her successor, John Lee Ka-chiu, were at the station to receive the president on his first trip outside mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Accompanied by mainland officials including Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ding Xuexiang, director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi said the city had been on his mind and in his heart since his last visit five years ago.
“In the past few years, Hong Kong has gone through various severe tests one after another, and has overcome risks and challenges one after another,” Xi said without directly referring to the anti-government protest chaos of 2019 which eventually ended after Beijing imposed the national security law on the city.
“After the wind and rain, Hong Kong has risen from the ashes, and showed strong vibrancy. These facts prove that one country, two systems has strong vitality, which has ensured the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and safeguarded the well-being of compatriots in Hong Kong,” he said. “One country, two systems is a good system.”
