Today, we celebrate the seventh anniversary of German unification and, for the first time, we commemorate the day of German unity in Hong Kong after the re-unification with the Chinese mainland.
This day gives me great pleasure to recall both the historic events in Berlin and Hong Kong and to extend my best wishes to all our friends in the newly established Special Administrative Region and to all Germans living in Hong Kong.
The past year has illustrated Germany's increased role in the European spirit and as an equal partner in the world community. Germany intensified its commitment to the European integration process and continued to prove its willingness to assume greater responsibilities in the world.
The Amsterdam Summit cleared the way for all of Europe to develop into a cohesive zone of stability and prosperity, and the projected start of the European Economic and Monetary Union will be at the heart of European unification in the coming years.
Germany also intensified its relations with countries in Asia and witnessed the successful transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong with intense interest. Policy-makers and industry in Germany have taken account of the increasingly important role that Asia-Pacific is playing on the world stage and join forces to intensify relations with this region.
The importance Germany attaches to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as one of Asia's leading economies was reflected in the visits of Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and many other high- ranking official and business delegations coming to Hong Kong before and after the handover.
We believe that Hong Kong is a place firmly turned to the future. For years, Germany and Hong Kong have enjoyed a strong and stable economic partnership and have derived considerable mutual benefit from their close relations.