A reception highlighting the cultural diversity of the European Union (EU) member states was held here Friday night to celebrate the Europe Day, which falls on May 9 this year.

Dozens of consul generals in Hong Kong and representatives from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government attended the reception.

During the Europe Day event, 16 EU member states also exhibited about their capitals of culture in a joint promotion efforts for the European cultures.

In his address at the reception, Jean-Pierre Thebault, Consul General of France and acting Presidency of the EU in Hong Kong said what made a unique Europe in common was its culture and its unity with full respect of cultural diversity.

"We are diverse and we benefit from that," Thebault said.

"Hong Kong is a city where culture matters," Thebault said, noting that Hong Kong is able to showcase diversity matters and can be the base for large success.

Europe and China have a lot in common concerning their cultural diversity, which the European people and the Chinese people can share with each other, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2008)