HONG KONG - Visiting Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, on behalf of the Chinese central government, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, greeted the Hong Kong people on Wednesday evening in his address at a welcoming dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

Li, who arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday on his first visit to the city as vice-premier, said he had had much interaction and contact with all circles of Hong Kong in the last two days, and had first-hand feelings of Hong Kong's glamour and dynamism.

In the last 14 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Hong Kong has weathered many hardships, but maintains its reputation as the freest economy in the world and a global center for finance, trade and shipping, and the city has remained prosperous and its overall situation is good, he said.

Hong Kong's achievements since its return fully proved that the concept of "one country, two systems" has huge vitality, Li said.

Globally, the environment is still very complicated and there are both opportunities and challenges, he said, adding that the world's economy is undergoing tortuous recovery, as evidenced by recent turbulence in the global financial market.

But, be it any kind of challenges, "we are fully confident of Hong Kong's development all the time," and Hong Kong's future is blessed with several favorable factors, he said.

The nation's development and prosperity is a strong supporter for Hong Kong's growth in the future, while the city's favorable position in the regional and global economic map and its long-time development have laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong's future development, Li said.

But Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability lies in the endeavor of Hong Kong compatriots, and the city's future calls for concerted efforts from all circles of Hong Kong. Hong Kong needs to continue improving people's livelihood with harmonious development, Li added.

The welcoming dinner was also attended by Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa and Chief Executive of the HKSAR Donald Tsang, among others.