Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at a welcome dinner hosted by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Hong Kong, south China, June 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
HONG KONG, June 30 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping said here Friday the central government's commitment to "one country, two systems" remains unchanged, and its resolve remains firm and strong, although the road ahead may not be smooth.
Xi made the remarks when addressing a welcome dinner hosted by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The president compared the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong over the past two decades to the growth of a seedling, which has become strong and robust despite wind and rain and yielded many fruits.
"'One country, two systems' is a great pioneering initiative by China," Xi said.
"Its practice, featuring socialism in the main body of the country and capitalism in certain regions, is unprecedented in human political history," he added.
"It is a breakthrough those before us made through exploration and with extraordinary courage. We the succeeding generation should practice and develop 'one country, two systems' with firm resolve," Xi said.
"We should have full confidence in ourselves, in Hong Kong and in our country," the president said, calling for persistent and unrelenting efforts to achieve even greater success in the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.
Xi arrived in Hong Kong Thursday for a three-day trip to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the fifth-term government of the HKSAR. Inspection of the HKSAR is also on his schedule.
