ISTANBUL

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged full support Friday for Hong Kong in aligning with national strategies to bolster economic growth and innovation, according to the Chinese State Council.

“The central authorities ... fully support the chief executive and the Hong Kong government in uniting all sectors of society to pursue reform, innovation, and prosperity,” it quoted Xi during a meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee.

He highlighted Hong Kong's new development opportunities and reiterated China's commitment to the "one country, two systems" framework.

Xi acknowledged Hong Kong's "achievements" in the past year, including addressing pressing livelihood issues such as housing and health care, enhancing external cooperation and boosting its "global prestige."

The Chinese president emphasized that those efforts have consolidated Hong Kong's stability and set the stage for continued development, encouraging further progress through creativity and reform.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, located to the east of the Pearl River estuary on the south coast of China.