Speech by Acting SJ at Reception of 215th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence of Mexico (English only) (with photos)
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Ambassador Macedo (Consul General of Mexico in Hong Kong, Mr Pablo Macedo Riba), Deputy Commissioner Pan (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Pan Yundong) , ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
I am delighted to be here with you tonight to celebrate the 215th anniversary of Mexico's independence.
This historic national day is flush with music and dancing, fireworks, food, parades and family gatherings throughout Mexico. And well beyond.
It is also a gratifying opportunity to acknowledge the promising ties between our two economies and peoples. Our bilateral merchandise trade last year reached US$5.7 billion, up nearly 13 per cent over 2023, with annual growth a solid 5.4 per cent between 2020 and 2024. Not surprisingly, Mexico last year was Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Latin America.
And I'm confident that opportunities between us will continue to expand. In January, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled "Plan Mexico", a long-term strategy to boost the country's economic growth and global competitiveness. It includes emphasising scientific and technological innovation.
Innovation and technology (I&T) is a Hong Kong Government policy priority. We've got world-class academic and research excellence. As one of the world's leading financial centres, we are blessed with liquidity, along with angel investors, venture capital and private equity funds to support innovative companies.
Given our strengths as a super connector, Hong Kong is a natural testing ground for new technologies looking for markets in China and throughout the Asian region.
It also helps, that we are fast integrating with our sister cities in the Greater Bay Area, and its commitment to becoming one of the world's leading I&T centres. The results are clear and compelling.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster topped the world, for the first time, in the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Index, released this month. And we're just getting going.
I invite Mexican I&T companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs to collaborate with Hong Kong in shaping the future.
I look forward, too, to the signing of an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with Mexico. It can only create more rewarding opportunities for co-operation.
We've been blessed with creative collaboration this year, with the Mexican tenor Andrés Moreno García featured in a recent production of The Magic Flute.
And I know there will be plenty of Mexican creativity on show at "The Latin Kaleidoscope - Celebrating Latin America in Hong Kong", later this month at the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and AIA Vitality Park.
For now, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast on your proud national day: to the people of Mexico. Cheers.
Ends/Thursday, September 11, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:33
Issued at HKT 19:33
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