Chairman Li Yong Was Invited to Hong Kong to Attend the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference and Deliver a Keynote Speech

The "2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference" kicked off at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on November 8, 2018. Chairman Li Yong was invited to attend the conference as a guest of honor and deliver a keynote speech. With the theme of "Reform and Opening Up: China and the World", the conference focused on the achievements China has made over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, and explored how young people could adapt to the times and share the opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

In his address, Li Baodong, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), noted that the best commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up is to advance a new round of reform and opening up, open its doors wider to the outside world, and see reform through to the end. He encouraged young people in Hong Kong to aspire to lofty ideals, keep learning constantly, and know that youth is meaningless without hard work. He hoped that the majority of young people would become forerunners in the new round of reform and opening up.

In her address, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), emphasized that over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the country has maintained an astonishing pace of development, exerted significant international influence and made positive contributions in areas including politics, science and technology, and environmental protection. She urged young people in Hong Kong to have a broad and long-term vision, actively explore opportunities beyond Hong Kong, expand their horizons and understand the world.

Wang Zhimin, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (LOCPG), remarked in his address that Hong Kong has always played an important role in the 40-year historical course of reform and opening up. Generation after generation of Hong Kong compatriots have carried forward the spirit of patriotism and love for Hong Kong, self-improvement, hard work and striving for progress, and adaptability to changes. They have kept pace with the trend of economic globalization, boldly blazed new trails and seized opportunities. In the critical period of the country’s new round of reform and opening up, Hong Kong must grasp the new historical opportunities, realize its own new development by integrating itself into the overall national development, and this requires the younger generation to pass on the baton and uphold and promote the fine spiritual qualities of the older generations.

The "Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference" was co-hosted by the BFA and the Y. Elites Association, a leading youth organization in Hong Kong. Since 2009, this forum has invited political and business elites from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and around the world every year to participate and engage in dialogues with young people on issues such as Asia’s economic development trends, youth development, education, science and technology, and innovation and creativity.

During the conference, Chairman Li Yong also held cordial talks with new and old friends including Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of HKSAR, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Li Baodong, the Secretary-General of the BFA, Wang Zhimin, Director of LOCPG, Xie Feng, Commissioner of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Zhuang Jiabin, Chairman of the Y.Elites Association, and President of Chuang's Group, further deepening mutual understanding.

Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference

Chairman Li Yong posed for a cordial photo in front of the backdrop

of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference.

Chairman Li Yong delivered a keynote speech as a guest of honor at the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, delivered a keynote speech at the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Conference

Chairman Li Yong posed for a cordial photo with Zhuang Jiabin,

Chairman of the Y.Elites Association, and President of Chuang's Group

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