Hong Kong deepens ties with Central Asia through high-level delegation visit

A high-level delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has returned from a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, securing 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements that span from service sectors to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure development. The trip, which took place from May 31 to June 5, involved over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises.

Lee emphasized the breadth of cooperation, stating that agreements ranged from service sector to heavy industries, highlighting the limitless potential for collaboration. The outcomes underscore Hong Kong's role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, acting as a super connector and super value-adder to promote broader cooperation and establish a hub-to-hub model.

Kazakhstan, Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia and the birthplace of the Belt and Road Initiative, offers broad prospects for further cooperation, particularly in logistics and infrastructure. Lee noted that many Belt and Road projects are also underway in Uzbekistan, which sits at the heart of the Asia-Europe corridor, opening opportunities in railway development and cargo handling.

Lee encouraged Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong's advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, including its common law system, separate customs territory, and absence of capital controls. He welcomed Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev to Hong Kong on June 10, and both attended the Alatau City Investment Round Table on June 11.

At the round table, Lee outlined three ways Hong Kong could contribute to Alatau City's development: as a gateway to global capital, to the Chinese Mainland and Greater Bay Area, and as a partner in talent and technology. He described the current moment as a golden opportunity to bring the two economies closer together and achieve complementary advantages across sectors.

For more details, watch the video highlights: https://youtu.be/LgPe9R4ThII?si=Tw3RR_-vyRR6DLMU and https://youtu.be/3BHeD0NGioo?si=xCPWMCpGCPsRm2kF.