DHAKA -- A reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to the motherland has been held here in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

Around 300 participants from the Bangladeshi government, business bodies, media houses and the Chinese community attended the event held on Friday.

The event was hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok in collaboration with the Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh.

It was the first initiative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to promote Hong Kong in South Asia.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau of the HKSAR government delivered recorded speeches.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said Hong Kong has made all-around progress and achieved new heights over the past 25 years.

Now Hong Kong plays a unique role in China's national development initiatives, such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, he said.

With the thorough and precise implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle, the legend of Hong Kong will surely be continued for long, said the Chinese diplomat.

Li said Hong Kong and local business partners can fully leverage their respective advantages to seek mutually beneficial opportunities.

The Chinese ambassador concluded that Hong Kong, the Pearl of the East, will keep stunning the world under the guidance of "one country, two systems."

At the same time, Bangladesh, the Pearl of the Subcontinent, is also rising from the Bay of Bengal. The two pearls can shine together and illuminate each other, he said.