Hong Kong's socio-economic achievements are inspiring, and the city is expected to play a bigger role as the "gateway" to Asia, including the promising Chinese mainland market, a delegation of visiting foreign government officials and diplomats said on Wednesday.

"It's always fascinating to come to this vibrant city, Asia's global city and the meeting place of the East and the West, particularly as we visited today the West Kowloon Cultural District," Croatian Ambassador to China Dario Mihelin told reporters.

Prior to the visit, also his second visit to Hong Kong this year, Mihelin had been to Hong Kong several times. He said he looks forward to deepening economic and trade relations between Croatia and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), including high-level visits, more business and investment forums, and more Hong Kong visitors to Croatia.

Thandiwe Fadane, a senior South African diplomat, said she was impressed by Hong Kong's changes since her last visit some ten years ago.

"I came here with a very clear purpose of learning more and also observing some of the successful efforts of Hong Kong. It has been a very humbling experience to have met the very senior people of the HKSAR, and to hear directly from them how they are continuously trying to make Hong Kong a better place for its own people," she said.

Pablo Arriaran Ahumada, a senior Chilean diplomat, visited Hong Kong for the first time.

Chile sees Hong Kong as a hub and a gateway to Asia, especially the vast and promising Chinese mainland market, he said, eyeing more business and development opportunities through closer ties with the HKSAR, particularly in the field of youth, so that more young people from Chile can visit and do business in Hong Kong in the future.

The visiting delegation, at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the HKSAR government, comprised government officials and diplomats from 12 countries.

During their stay in Hong Kong from Dec. 8 to Dec. 11, the delegation met with senior officials of the HKSAR government, held in-depth exchanges with members of the Legislative Council, visited such places as the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Hong Kong Science Park to get to see and feel Hong Kong in-person. 

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