On February 25, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Dubai and the Dubai Representative Office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) jointly hosted a Chinese New Year Gala Dinner for the Year of the Snake. The event was graced by the presence of H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE Ministry of Economy; Ou Boqian, Consul General of China in Dubai; Damian Lee Kwok-Hung, Director-general of the HKETO in Dubai; and Daniel Lam, HKTDC regional director Middle East & Africa. Over 300 guests, including Hong Kong compatriots residing in the UAE and friends from various sectors, attended the celebration.

In her remarks, Consul General Ou Boqian emphasized that under the principles of “One Country, Two Systems” and “Patriots Administering Hong Kong,” the city is charting a new chapter of transition from stability to prosperity, by leveraging the strong support of the motherland while maintaining its status as an international hub. She noted that Hong Kong and Dubai enjoy robust economic and trade relations and vibrant people-to-people exchanges, which form an integral part of the broader China–UAE partnership. With the strong support of the Central Government, Hong Kong is well positioned to further harness its unique strengths, deepen reform and innovation, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the UAE.

The organizers also presented an overview of Hong Kong’s economic development and investment opportunities. The festive atmosphere was further enlivened by captivating cultural performances, including lion dancing, Sichuan opera face-changing, and magic shows, which were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.