Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong calls on US business leaders to take ‘rational’ view of China’s development, ‘find cooperation opportunities’

With tensions between US and China running high, Liu Guangyuan urges conference participants to ‘contribute more positive energy’ to the countries’ relations

‘Getting the relationship right is not optional, but is something we must do and must do well,’ he says at conference held by the Post

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Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong has called on international businesspeople to take advantage of opportunities in the city and to contribute to better relations between the US and China. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:30pm, 7 Dec 2021Updated: 11:17pm, 7 Dec 2021

Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong has urged business and community leaders in the United States to “take a rational, fair and objective view of China’s development”, stressing that getting the relationship between the two countries right is not optional, but “something we must do, and must do well”.

In a pre-recorded keynote speech played on Tuesday at the opening of the Post’s annual “China Conference: United States”, Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of China’s foreign affairs office in Hong Kong, also outlined Beijing’s key reforms and foreign policies, urging international businesses to embrace opportunities in the city.

“It is my hope that all of you will take a rational, fair and objective view of China’s development, and find cooperation opportunities in China’s development for common progress. Let’s work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind and promote world peace and development,” he said.

“Getting the relationship right is not optional, but is something we must do and must do well.”

Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of Beijing’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, is seen talking about the history of the Communist Party of China in June. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The two-day conference, titled “Navigating the new normal in US-China relations”, brought together business leaders, policymakers and respected researchers to offer participants access to crucial, thought-provoking theories on what the future holds for the China-US relationship.