Hong Kong political and economic experts said President Xi Jinping’s New Year speech on Thursday conveyed uplifting messages to all Chinese people to start the new year with courage and confidence.
Xi’s New Year address made on the eve of 2021 covered topics including the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, reform and opening-up, and the eradication of poverty.
With support and assistance from the central government, Hong Kong people will have more confidence and strength to fight the virus and deal with the crisis in the new year
Lau Siu-kai,
vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said Xi’s inspiring New Year speech cast a light on the nation’s concerted efforts in 2020 to contain COVID-19 and restart the coronavirus-hampered economy.
As part of China, Hong Kong received a “shot in the arm” from the president’s speech, which sent the message that the special administrative region has the country’s backing to get the pandemic under control and revive its hard-hit economy, Lau said.
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With support and assistance from the central government, Lau said, Hong Kong people will have more confidence and strength to fight the virus and deal with the crisis in the new year.
On Xi’s remarks on the world as a community with a shared future for mankind, Lau said:“ It shows that China, as a strong nation, takes its responsibility in the international community and will lend a helping hand to countries or regions in crisis.”
Echoing Lau, David Wong Yau-kar, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, said Xi’s speech brimmed with enthusiasm while extending the president’s best New Year’s wishes to all Chinese people.
2021 is of great importance to China as it is the first year of the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development, said the economic expert and Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress.
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He said the confident Chinese people will overcome any difficulty brought on by global economic and political uncertainties.
Tsang Yuk-on, vice-chairman of Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee of New Territories of Hong Kong, said he’s glad that Xi underlined the significance of rural revitalization in his New Year speech.
Tsang said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should learn from the central government’s experience and attach high importance to the city’s rural development issues as the government seeks to narrow the gap between the urban and rural areas.
He Shusi contributed to this story.
