博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会昨日拉开帷幕，这是疫情爆发后论坛首次于线下举行，吸引了世界目光。近一段时间以来，中国发展高层论坛成功举行、中国与沙特深化经济合作、中国与巴西宣布以人民币作为结算货币……一系列盛事的举办及合作协议的签署，充分展现了中国发展的强大动能，也反映了百年未有之大变局下的新发展态势。香港社会要深入思考如何顺应时势变化，抓住发展机遇，实现自身更大发展，为国家发展、民族复兴多作贡献。

　　国务院总理李强昨日在论坛上发表主旨讲话，指出在不确定的世界中，中国的确定性是维护世界和平和发展的中流砥柱，过去如此，未来和当下更是如此。无论世界发生什么样的变化，中国都将始终坚持改革开放、创新驱动，为整个世界经济发展不断注入新的动力和活力，让世界各国分享中国发展的机遇和红利。这再次向世界发出了中国坚定不移推动改革开放的明确信号，也再次说明中国的发展必将惠及世界，世界发展离不开中国。

　　事实上，参与今年博鳌亚洲论坛的国际政要明显增多，包括新加坡总理李显龙、西班牙首相桑切斯、马来西亚总理安瓦尔、科特迪瓦总理阿奇等等。博鳌亚洲论坛受到越来越多的重视，反映在全球地缘政治恶化、经济风险上升的不确定之中，中国作为全球经济稳定器和发动机的角色更加凸显。李显龙在论坛上呼吁各国要与中国发展更紧密的关系，桑切斯启程前直言世界应该多倾听中国的声音。如此多的国际政要来华，说明了对中国发展的高度重视，希望抢夺发展机遇。

　　而在博鳌亚洲论坛举行之前，还有多项重要事件引起国际社会关注。中国发展高层论坛年会在北京成功举行，包括美国苹果在内的跨国企业管理层纷纷出席，他们用行动表明与中国“脱鈎”行不通；沙特阿美不久前宣布在中国的两项投资计划，投资金额高达1000亿美元，震动世界；近日，中国和巴西宣布，建立人民币清算所，直接以人民币结算交易及发放贷款。中巴两国不再以美元作为中间货币，这是推动人民币国际化的重要一步，也意味着美元作为国际货币地位的削弱。

　　下个月，中国将迎来一系列重要外交活动，包括意大利、法国以及欧盟的领导人，都将访华。多国领袖及重要的国际组织领导人纷纷访问中国，深化与中国的经济合作，既反映国际经济实力此消彼长，亦反映得道多助、失道寡助的国际关系准则并不过时。事实证明，美国大搞单边制裁、长臂管辖及鼓吹“脱鈎”不得人心，中国的主张得到越来越多的国家认同，中国的发展势不可当。另一方面，中国早前公布《关于政治解决乌克兰危机的中国立场》，以及推动沙特和伊朗恢复外交关系等等，亦令国际社会对中国在推动世界和平发挥更重要作用产生更大的期望。

　　祖国好，香港更好。内地坚持扩大开放，经济发展持续向好，国际影响力与日俱增，对香港而言是重大利好。香港社会可从近来发生的一系列大事中，深刻感受到时代不断向前迈进的铿锵步伐，进一步坚定对未来的信心。在这样的形势下，香港更要发挥好“背靠祖国、联通世界”的优势，做好“以己之所长，贡献国家所需”这篇文章，实现更好的发展。

　　Irresistible as is the trend of the East rising and the West declining, Hong Kong could ride the wind and waves forward in pursuit of development

　　The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) kicked off its Annual Conference 2023 yesterday. The BFA Conference, the first one held offline since the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic three years ago, draws worldwide attention. In a recent period of time, the China Development Forum 2023 has been successfully held, China and Saudi Arabia have deepened their economic cooperation, and China and Brazil have agreed on using renminbi (yuan) as settlement currency…. Such a series of events held and agreements signed fully demonstrates the strong driving forces of China's development, and also shows the new development trend amid profound changes in the world unseen in a century. Hong Kong society must get down to seriously pondering how to adapt itself to changes in situation and seize opportunities for development, so as to achieve greater development of its own and make more contributions to our country's development and out nation's rejuvenation.

　　Premier of the State Council Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the BFA Conference, pointing out that "the certainty that China offers is an anchor for global peace and development. This has been the case in the past and will remain so in the future…no matter how the world situation may evolve, we will stay committed to reform, opening-up and innovation-driven development. We will continue to inject new vigor and vitality into the global economic development, and welcome countries around the world to share in the opportunities and benefits that come with China's development." This once again sends a clear message to the world that China will unswervingly push forward its reform and opening up, and once again spells out that China's development is bound to benefit the world and the world's development cannot do without China.

　　As a matter of fact, the number of foreign leaders and dignitaries attending this year's BFA Conference remarkably increases. Among them there include Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim, and Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi, etc. The fact that the BFA Conference attracts more and more attention shows China's role as a stabiliser and engine for the global economy is even more highlighted amid uncertainties of worldwide geopolitical deterioration and increasing economic risks. At the BFA Conference, Lee Hsien Loong urged countries in the region to continue to promote economic cooperation and good relations with China. Ahead of his departure for China, Pedro Sánchez spoke straightforwardly that "The world should listen to China's voice". So many foreign leaders and dignitaries coming to China suggests they attach greater importance to China's development and hope to grab opportunities for development.

　　And before the BFA Conference started, several important events had also aroused attention from the international community. The China Development Forum 2023 was successfully held in Beijing which was attended by senior management officers of multi-national enterprises including Apple Inc. of the United States. By acting in this way, they make it clear that "decoupling from China" is infeasible and impractical. Saudi Aramco not long ago announced two investment projects in China with the amount totaling as high as US$100 billion, shocking the world. Not long ago China and Brazil announced to establish a yuan clearing arrangement to settle trade and financial transactions directly in mutual currencies instead of using the US dollar as intermediary currency. This is an important step to push forward internationalisation of the Chinese currency, which is also meant the weakening of the US dollar's status as international currency. 

　　And next month, there will be a series of important diplomatic activities in China. Leaders of foreign countries including those of Italy, France and European Union (EU) will visit China. The fact that leaders of foreign countries and international organisations come to visit China one after the other to deepen economic cooperation with China indicates the rising and declining respectively of international economic powers and also proves the basic norm of international relations is by no means out of date that "a just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little support". As proved by facts, the United States becomes unpopular by wantonly imposing unilateral sanctions, exercising long-arm jurisdiction and advocating "decoupling from China", while China's positions are appreciated by more and more countries and the tendency of China's development becomes irresistible. Moreover, China earlier issued China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis and facilitated Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore their diplomatic ties, which have also boosted the international community's expectation for China to play a more important role in promoting world peace.

　　Hong Kong benefits even more from our country's betterment. The Mainland persists in expanding its reform and opening up, its economic development continues to steadily improve and its international influence grows with each passing day. All this is a major feel-good, favourable factor for Hong Kong. From a series of major events in a recent period of time, Hong Kong society could fully perceive the determined steps of our times to march forward, and hence further enhance its confidence in the future. Under such a situation, Hong Kong ought to bring into full play its advantages of "enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world" and make a better effort to "capitalise on our strengths to serve the country's needs", so as to attain better development.