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Foreign Minister Westerwelle: the policy of openness must be maintained in Hong Kong
Foreign Minister Westerwelle arrived in Hong Kong today (31 August). During his visit he will meet with the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, Leung Chun-ying, and give a speech to the Asia Society on the current situation in Europe, explaining German and European policies aimed at overcoming the debt crisis there.
On his arrival in Hong Kong, Foreign Minister Westerwelle made the following statement:
Hong Kong stands for dynamism and cosmopolitanism. Its openness to the free market and its level of respect for the rule of law generate important impetus for all of China. This policy of openness must be maintained. We are following Hong Kong’s internal development very closely and support further democratization.
Hong Kong is very important for us as a centre of finance and trading hub in Asia. It is the gateway to China for many German companies. Especially in fields that are important for the future such as energy efficiency and green technologies, there is a great potential for cooperation that we want to develop in a targeted manner.
