The Better Hong Kong Foundation hosted a New Year luncheon for foreign Consuls, Chambers of Commerce and business leaders. The guest speaker at the luncheon was Mr. Lu Xinhua, Commissioner of China’s Foreign Ministry in HKSAR.
In his speech, Mr. Lu talked about China’s diplomacy in 2006, Sino-US relations and developments in Northeast Asia. Mr. Lu pointed out that 2006 saw profound and complicated changes in the international situation. China’s adherence to its independent foreign policy of peaceful diplomacy and development has contributed to building a more enduring peace and stability worldwide, and an enabling environment for its internal reforms and modernization drive.
Mr. Lu said that China-US relations have moved forward steadily. President Hu Jintao paid a successful visit to the US President and the two leaders met on many occasions in 2006. As a result, an important relationship has been reached to trying to build a constructive China-US relationship for the 21st century. According to Mr. Lu, China-Russian relations continue to deepen. President Hu and President Putin met five times in 2006 alone, reaching an important consensus on the long-term development of bilateral relations and strengthening strategic coordination.
By overcoming political difficulties, China and Japan saw a turn for the better in their relations. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to China and President Hu Jintao’s meeting with him on the sidelines of the APEC summit have helped to produce a consensus on furthering China-Japan relations.
Nearly 100 guests attended the luncheon. This luncheon was co-hosted by the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre.