On May 19, the Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange and Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Conference was held in Hong Kong. Huang Qiang, Secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial People’s Congress, delivered the following welcome speech:
Seizing New Opportunities, The Aroma of Ginseng from Jilin Enchants Hong Kong
— Welcome Speech at the Jilin-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange and Changbai Mountain Ginseng Promotion Conference
The Honorable Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu,
Deputy Director Yin Zonghua,
Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
Good afternoon!
In this beautiful season of blooming flowers and gentle breezes, it gives me great pleasure to gather with new and old friends from Hong Kong and Macao by the picturesque Victoria Harbour, to attend this cross-regional “Ginseng Appointment.” On behalf of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and the People’s Government of Jilin Province, I extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests, friends, and members of the media from home and abroad! I would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Hong Kong SAR Government and all parties for their long-standing support and assistance.
With the backing of the motherland and its connectivity to the world, Hong Kong holds a unique and vital position in the overall development strategy of the country. Under the care and support of the Central Government, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and the sixth-term SAR Government have united all sectors of society to focus on economic recovery and development. Through challenges and transformation, Hong Kong’s governance has improved, development has accelerated, livelihoods have enhanced, and social stability has strengthened—writing a new chapter in the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems.”
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Jilin four times, personally planning the blueprint for Jilin’s comprehensive revitalization in the new era. On February 8 of this year, General Secretary Xi made a special visit to Jilin, listened to work reports from the Provincial Committee and the Provincial Government, and delivered an important speech, urging Jilin to seize opportunities, forge ahead with innovation, and work diligently, to play a greater role in advancing Chinese modernization. We are earnestly implementing the General Secretary’s important instructions, striving to significantly improve the quality of our development and make new breakthroughs in revitalization, all with the goal of delivering benefits to the people and steadily promoting common prosperity.
Located in the central part of Northeast China and covering an area of 187,400 square kilometers, Jilin is a major national base for both industry and agriculture, and a province strong in science and education. The first automobile, railway passenger train, synthetic rubber, and bag of fertilizer in New China were all born here. Jilin is a land of heroes—the birthplace of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, the starting point of the Northeast Liberation War, and a key logistical base during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. It is also the cradle of China’s automobile industry, film industry, and civil aviation industry. Ecology is Jilin’s most precious resource, and green is its most distinctive color. “Jilin” literally means “auspicious forest.” We are blessed with both “lucid waters and lush mountains” and “snow-covered landscapes”—two invaluable treasures of nature. Jilin boasts some of China’s best forests, powder snow, and black soil.
Changbai, Majestic Through the Ages—Ginseng from Jilin Enchants Hong Kong.
Changbai Mountain is the water tower of Northeast China and the source of the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu rivers. It is one of the world’s rare genetic reservoirs and ecological museums. The mountain is rich in natural treasures, most notably the “Three Treasures of Changbai Mountain”—ginseng, mineral spring water, and Songhua inkstones. In 1997, when Hong Kong returned to the motherland, Jilin presented a giant Songhua inkstone named “Purple Bauhinia, Rooted in Songhua” as a gift. All Chinese people know that ginseng is a precious herb, and the best ginseng in the world comes from Changbai Mountain. The Jilin Hall of the Great Hall of the People houses a 160-year-old “King of Wild Ginseng” from Changbai Mountain. Jilin’s ginseng industry is advancing with high-quality development, reaching a total output value of over 80 billion yuan last year. The millennium-old golden brand of the “King of Herbs” shines ever brighter. Hong Kong and Macao residents have a long-standing affection for ginseng and frequently use it for health and wellness. The century-old Hong Kong herbal store Wong Sam Ching Ginseng Medicine Shop traces its roots to the “Jilin Official Ginseng Bureau” established during the Qing Dynasty.
Good Land Produces Good Food
Jilin’s rice and fresh sweet corn are particularly aromatic! We are diligently developing value chains at both ends of the agricultural spectrum—“grain-to-table,” “livestock-to-meat,” and “agriculture-to-industry”—and striving to lead the way in agricultural modernization. At the same time, we are developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions. The world’s fastest CR450 bullet train has rolled off the production line; China’s first hydrogen-powered commuter train has been tested in Changchun; the Audi-FAW new energy vehicles have gone into mass production; and the “Jilin-1” satellite constellation now has 117 satellites in orbit. Our traditional industrial base is embracing a vibrant new life.
Those with Shared Aspirations Are Never Far Apart
The comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are both national strategies. Jilin is further deepening its reform and opening-up, aiming to become a vital northern gateway for the Belt and Road Initiative and a central hub for cooperation in Northeast Asia. Hong Kong serves as a “super-connector” and “super-value-adder” between the Mainland and international markets, while Macao is a “precise connector” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Both regions are actively integrating into the national development landscape. Now is the perfect time to deepen Jilin-Hong Kong and Jilin-Macao cooperation—it is full of promise and opportunities.
Jilin is a summer retreat and a winter paradise. We warmly invite friends from all sectors to visit Jilin, experience our colorful landscapes across four seasons, and enjoy the joy and blessings of this auspicious land. Let us connect through ginseng, build sincere friendships, and together create a bright future for joint development between Jilin and Hong Kong, and between Jilin and Macao!
Thank you all!
