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Interview: "One Country, Two Systems" Is a Great Concept
The success of China's "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong and Macao proves that the policy is an epoch-making strategy, said Russia's Consul-general in Hong Kong Konstantin Vnukov on Friday.
"The policy not only proceeds smoothly in Hong Kong, but also in Macao, leading to the obvious improvement in Macao's social security and its first-time economic growth in 4 years," said Vnukov, who was back in Hong Kong from the Macao celebrations marking the first anniversary of the SAR's founding.
Those facts once again prove that the "one country, two systems " policy, under which two different social systems co-exist and complement each other, is a strategy wise and full of vitality, he said.
Hong Kong is an international commercial, financial and IT center, Vnukov said. "To continuously push forward the relationship between Hong Kong and Russia is of great importance to the future development of both sides," he said.
Figures show that since the founding of the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Hong Kong in 1994, trade between Hong Kong and Russia has grown by 40 percent yearly. In 1997, the bilateral
trade reached 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Vnukov noted the bilateral trade still leaves much room for further development since the figure is too small compared with the mammoth trade between Hong Kong and other countries, such as the United States and Europe.
"We still have a long way to go when it comes to the trade relations between Russia and Hong Kong, but, we already have made a very good start," the consul-general said.
Vnukov, who had lived in Beijing for 15 years and served three terms at the Russian Embassy in Beijing, is an expert of China-related issues and can speak fluent Chinese.
Though stationed in Hong Kong now, Vnukov visits Beijing every month and the changes happening there, he said, are very impressive. "Recently, I went to the Wangfujing Street in Beijing and found it completely new to me," he said.
"There are so many new buildings and there are also many buildings financed by Hong Kong business people. I am so happy to see the ties between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland getting closer and closer," Vnukov said.
Changes taking place in China since China's reform and opening-up policy was introduced are also amazing, said Vnukov. And the biggest change is that the living standard of the people is much higher, he said.
Vnukov said that 25 years ago, when he came to China for the first time, China was experiencing its toughest economic difficulties, and the commodities were very few.
"As a foreign diplomat, I could only buy towels from the Friendship Department Store, which was the only shop in Beijing open to foreigners," he recalled, adding "that may sound unbelievable to people nowadays."
China's economy has achieved eye-catching progress since the reform and opening up policy was introduced and China is playing a more and more important role in the international arena, Vnukov said.
China's success is the result of the country's unprecedented reform and opening up policy, which, though with strong Chinese characteristics, can be used for reference for other countries, he said.
Russia, which shares a 4300-kilometer-long boundary with China,has many similarities with China in historical and natural conditions, and China's successful experience in reform and opening up can also be used for reference for Russia, Vnukov said.
China is Russia's important trade partner and the trade between the two countries was near 6.5 billion U.S. dollars, and is expected to rise to 7 billion U.S. dollars this year, according to Vnukov.
The two countries are also important political partners, he said, noting that contacts between the two governments are further strengthened this year. In 2000, heads of the two governments had
six meetings and the unilateral ministerial visits reached more than 40, covering almost all areas.
The two countries are considering signing a new bilateral agreement next year, which will surely push the bilateral relations to a new height, Vnukov said.
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