Foreign companies in Hong Kong should intensify international partnerships to counteract alleged Western prejudice, according to Regina Ip.
Rewritten Article:
Hong Kong's business and academic circles need to intensify collaboration with their international counterparts to combat the Western governments' biased stance against the city and Beijing, according to a top government advisor.
Enter Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, the one making the call to action. She graced a 2.5-hour forum hosted by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, an event gathering esteemed business and political figures to discuss leveraging Hong Kong's advantages and boosting international cooperation.
During her keynote speech to the 200 attendees, Ip stressed the importance of what's known as "Track II" diplomacy – a tactic that utilizes non-official channels to foster communication, trust, and conflict resolution.
"Many U.S. congressmen spew radical anti-China rhetoric, but they've never even set foot in the country," Ip shared, touching on the current tensions between Washington and Beijing.
"By stepping up engagement with well-informed think tanks and opinion leaders in the U.S., we can help bridge the knowledge gap. Just as we did in the past when dealing with trade disputes with the U.S., we sought to persuade U.S. importers to lobby their government on our behalf."
It's worth mentioning that the success of such increased exchanges remains to be seen, and there's no conclusive data on the matter yet. However, the idea of fostering international cooperation and mutual understanding is a popular theme within Hong Kong's business and academic community, as it serves to confront the Western bias they're currently facing[1].
Furthermore, educational institutions are making strides in promoting international exchange programs to broaden cultural and academic horizons[2][4]. While their primary focus is on fostering understanding between nations, their efforts could support the initiative to counter Western bias by promoting knowledge and empathy. But for now, the main goal is to influence policy and perceptions through non-official interactions.
- Regina Ip, a top government advisor, urged Hong Kong's business and academic circles to increase collaborative efforts with their international counterparts, aiming to counteract the perceived bias against the city and Beijing by Western governments.
- The strategy Ip advocates involves engaging in "Track II" diplomacy, which utilizes non-official channels to foster communication, trust, and resolution of conflicts.
- Ip believes that by establishing connections with well-informed think tanks and opinion leaders in the United States, they can help bridge the knowledge gap and potentially influence the opinions of U.S. congressmen, who often express radical anti-China sentiments.
- The general news about the ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing shows the need for diplomacy, trade, and arts exchanges to facilitate mutual understanding and counteract existing biases.
- The business and academic communities in Hong Kong are already making strides in promoting international exchange programs, which not only broaden cultural horizons but also support the initiative to counter Western bias.
- In light of this, Hong Kong's finance and business sectors should also work together to strengthen their ties with international counterparts in the fields of politics, trade, and arts, as these connections could potentially influence policy and perceptions.
- The success of such increased exchanges remains uncertain, but the goal is clear: to facilitate mutual understanding and counteract existing biases by promoting dialogue and collaboration on a global scale.
