Speech by CE at 52nd Independence and National Day of Bangladesh Cocktail Reception
25.4.2023

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 52nd Independence and National Day of Bangladesh Cocktail Reception today (April 25): Consul General of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Hong Kong, Ms Israt Ara, Deputy Commissioner Pan Yundong of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, members of the Consulate, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is my great pleasure to be here with you all at this reception hosted by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Hong Kong. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to start by extending my warmest congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of your Independence and National Day. The reception this evening is particularly meaningful, since this is the first time in three years for the Consulate General to hold a National Day reception in Hong Kong. After three years of fighting the pandemic, Hong Kong has returned to normalcy, and we are now seamlessly connected to the Mainland and the rest of the world again. We are happy to welcome our friends from Bangladesh and indeed around the world to this Asia's world city. Bangladesh has long been an important participant of the Belt and Road Initiative launched by President Xi Jinping. China has become Bangladesh's biggest trading partner and the co-operation between the two countries in various fields has advanced smoothly, to the benefits of the two peoples. As a manufacturing powerhouse and one of the most populous countries in South Asia, Bangladesh has a rapidly expanding economy and is an important trade partner of Hong Kong. Over the years, Hong Kong and Bangladesh have developed a deep and longstanding partnership driven by our shared commitment to promoting economic growth and cultural exchange. Trade between Hong Kong and Bangladesh has grown significantly in recent years. The average annual growth rate in bilateral trade between the two places was 2.1 per cent from 2017 to 2021, and our bilateral trade in goods reached US$1.8 billion in 2021. In 2022, merchandise trade amounting to US$1.4 billion between Bangladesh and Mainland China was routed through Hong Kong. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is bestowed with the unique advantage of enjoying strong national support while maintaining close connections with the rest of the world. As an international financial and commercial centre, Hong Kong is committed to continuing in partnering with Bangladesh to drive economic growth and promote trade between our two economies. In addition to our strong trade ties, Hong Kong and Bangladesh also share a long history of cultural exchange, with many Bangladeshis living and working in Hong Kong. Your vibrant culture greatly diversifies our community, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate the traditions of Bangladesh in our East-meets-West metropolis. Looking to the future, I am confident that our two economies will continue to work together to build on our shared success and strengthen our friendship. We are committed to exploring new opportunities for co-operation, in such areas as investment protection, trade, culture, and so much more. On that note, may I wish you all a very happy Independence and National Day. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Issued at HKT 19:47 NNNN