HONG KONG, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's diplomacy has secured the further development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), with Hong Kong contributing to the national diplomatic endeavor, a Chinese official said Wednesday.
Xie Feng, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, made the remarks at a spring festival reception held in Hong Kong.
During the event, four people from Hong Kong were presented the "Friends of Diplomacy" award.
The four "Friends of Diplomacy," coming from different career backgrounds and social sectors, all take up the responsibility of serving Hong Kong and contributing to the country, with deep love for Hong Kong and the motherland, Xie said.
He hailed them as outstanding representatives of the Hong Kong compatriots who have made remarkable contribution to national diplomacy and Hong Kong-related diplomatic work.
"China's diplomacy is for the entire Chinese people, including the over 7 million Hong Kong compatriots," Xie said, adding that "Our compatriots in Hong Kong have placed national rejuvenation at their hearts, and cared deeply about the development of the motherland. They have always walked shoulder by shoulder with the country's diplomacy."
Xie praised Hong Kong compatriots' roles as upholders of national sovereignty, security and development interests, facilitators of people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world, practitioners of the country's opening-up strategy for win-win outcome, as well as contributors to China's participation in global governance.
Describing the year 2018 as "exceptional," Xie pointed out that Hong Kong has been actively participating in national development and continuing the success of "one country, two systems."
He also expressed hope that more and more Hong Kong compatriots, especially young people, would join the "Friends of Diplomacy" and contribute to the national diplomatic endeavor.
