The vital connection between Europe and Hong Kong
José Manuel Barroso says Europe's post-crisis reform has made its economy more competitive, readying it for deeper co-operation with Hong Kong and the region for sustainable growth
This year is precisely 500 years after the first European contact with Hong Kong, when a compatriot of mine, Jorge Álvares, arrived in 1513. I know how important Hong Kong is in the relationship between Asia and Europe.
Together, Europe and Asia represent half the world's population, more than half of the world's gross domestic product and 55 per cent of world trade. These impressive figures show the centrality of Europe-Asia relations. Europe has a stake in Asia's prosperity as much as Asia has a stake in Europe's prosperity.
One of the pillars of this is the growing EU-China relationship. We now have dialogue in almost all areas relevant to each other's development. And, at the very heart, is our support for the "one country, two systems" principle and our unique relations with the two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau.
Relations between Hong Kong and Europe are firmly forward-looking. European companies play a key role in Hong Kong's economy. Of the 2,000 European firms in the city, no fewer than 453 have their regional headquarters here, outnumbering both American and Japanese companies.
European investments keep coming in; European products are in demand and European citizens want to come here, too. This all shows we are excited about Hong Kong's potential in the years to come.
Our relationship is based on shared interests, shared prospects and a shared view on basic principles such as free trade, transparency and the rule of law. With business communities on both sides, we want to continue to strengthen them.