Anniversary of HK's return to motherland celebrated in Brussels

A group of 150 European officials, diplomats and overseas Chinese celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Brussels on Thursday. [Photo by Yan Huan/chinadaily.com.cn]

A group of 150 European officials, diplomats and overseas Chinese celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Brussels on Thursday, with members discussing the great progress the special administrative region has achieved in the past two decades.

July 1st marks the special occasion, which Chinese mission to EU, Chinese embassy to Belgium have joined Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels to celebrate.

Yang Yanyi, Chinese ambassador of the EU, said Hong Kong's return to the motherland two decades ago was a historic event, while the "one country, two systems" policy ensured the huge achievement it had made in previous years.

"Under the principle of ‘one country, two systems', Hong Kong people administrating Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy has been successfully implemented in the past 20 years, and Hong Kong has made marvellous progress in social and economic development," she said while addressing the celebration.

Yang added Hong Kong had remained one of the most competitive and dynamic international financial trade and shipping centers of the world and contributed uniquely to the reform and opening-up and modernization of the mainland.

She added that it has fully proved that "one country, two systems" is the best institutional arrangement for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong .

Shirley Lam, special representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, also said what Hong Kong has achieved in the past 20 has resulted from the principle of "one country, two systems."

Yan Huan contributed to the story