CS attends opening ceremony of 60th Anniversary of Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations – Evolving Cities: Beijing & Paris exhibition

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the opening ceremony of the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations – Evolving Cities: Beijing & Paris exhibition today (July 6):

尊敬的潘雲�副特派員（外交部�香港特別行政�特派員公署副特派員）�Consul General Drulhe（法國�港澳總領事�麗緹）�譚耀宗常委（第�三屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會委員�民主建港�進�盟（民建�）會務顧�）��慧�常委（第�四屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會委員�民建�會務顧�）�陳克勤主席（民建�主席）�周浩鼎副主席（民建�副主席）�譚兆璋教授���嘉賓���朋�：

　　大家好。很開心�得民建�的邀請，與��一�出席這個中法建交60周年展覽的開幕儀�。

　　今年是中法建交60周年的��一年。國家主席習近平指出，中法關係的�特歷�塑造了�立自主�相互�解�高瞻�矚�互利共�的「中法精神�。今年五月，習主席�法國進行國事訪�。中法兩國承先啓後，發表四份���明，並簽署近20項雙邊�作文件，為兩國交��作打下更堅實的基礎。

　　在這個具標誌性的一年，民建�和譚兆璋教授共�主辦今次展覽，我�為具有三��義。

　　第一是彰顯香港的�特地�。香港在「一國兩制�下，展�背�祖國��通世界的魅力。香港市民以至�地訪客，能在香港這個中西薈�的國際都會，��今次展覽深入淺出地�識中法兩國在60年來如何建立全�戰略夥伴關係，我�為這方��常有�義。

　　第二是促進香港與法國的關係。中法兩國的夥伴關係，å°�於促進香港與法國之間的交æµ�å�ˆä½œï¼Œå¸¶æœ‰ç›¸ç•¶çš„啓發性。中法兩國相互ç�†è§£ã€�互利å�ˆä½œç­‰ç²¾ç¥žï¼Œå�‡å¾ˆåˆ‡å�ˆé¦™æ¸¯èˆ‡æ³•åœ‹åœ¨ç¶“貿ã€�文化等領域的關係。香港è�¯å�Œå»£æ�±çœ�和澳門今年五月在巴黎å�ˆè¾¦çš„經貿å�ˆä½œäº¤æµ�會ã€�æ¯�年在港舉辦的法國五月——這些項目正是增進彼此ç�†è§£å�Œå�ˆä½œçš„好例å­�。我期待雙方繼往開來，深化è�¯ç¹«ã€‚

　　第三是拓展愛國主義教育。�培養民眾的愛國情懷，我們必須用好軟性手法，讓他們先�識國家�從而��國家。國家的外交發展，亦是國情的��部分。我相信市民��展覽，能加深了解祖國的外交�就，從而加強國民身分��。

　　在這�，我代表特�政府，多�民建�和譚教授為我們帶來這個別具�義的展覽。我�展覽圓滿�功，大家身體�康�事事順利。

     Now, may I say a few words in English.

     My thanks to the DAB (Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong) and Professor Tam Siu-cheung for jointly organising this inspiring exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations.

     As President Xi Jinping said this year, the unique history of China-France relations has shaped the "China-France spirit" of independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win co-operation.

     In this symbolic year, the two countries issued four joint statements, and signed close to 20 bilateral co-operation documents, to lay a more solid foundation for exchanges and co-operation ahead.

     The thematic exhibition here couldn't be timelier, I am pleased to note. It is particularly meaningful for the exhibition to be held in Hong Kong – a city with the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland, while being closely connected to the world, thanks to the "one country, two systems" principle.

     This exhibition will guide Hong Kong people and other visitors to gain a quick understanding of how China and France developed a comprehensive strategic partnership in the past 60 years.

     With diplomacy being an important part of a country's development, Hong Kong people can also deepen their knowledge of the motherland's history and, in turn, strengthen their sense of national identity.

     No less important, the partnership between China and France provides valuable insight for the exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and France. I have every confidence that the two economies can forge closer ties in trade, culture, and much more, in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual benefit likewise.

     On that note, I wish this exhibition a big success and all of you the best of health, and business, in the year to come. Thank you.

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