Hong Kong's high-level delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, led by Chief Executive John Lee, has yielded significant results, with 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements reached, including 15 government-level cooperation documents. The visit, from May 31 to June 5, involved over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, aiming to deepen ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland.
The agreements span a wide range of sectors, from services to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure development. "The examples of agreements and co-operation are just so abundant that they range from the service sector to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure development," Mr. Lee said. "I think the sky is the limit." The outcomes underscore Hong Kong's role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to promote broader cooperation and establish a hub-to-hub model.
Kazakhstan, described by Mr. Lee as an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe, is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia. He noted that many Belt and Road projects are also being pursued in Uzbekistan, which sits at the heart of the Asia-Europe corridor. "Logistical development, railway development, and also how we can complement and supplement each other in cargo handling will be an area for a very wide range of co-operation," he said. A video showcasing the visit can be found here.
Mr. Lee encouraged Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong's advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, highlighting its common law system, free capital flows, and separate customs territory. "Under this unique principle, Hong Kong has its own economic, social, legal, legislative and judicial systems. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China. We have our own currency, with no capital or foreign exchange controls. We are, as well, a separate customs territory," he said. Another video of his remarks is available here.
Building on the delegation's success, Mr. Lee 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 event, Mr. Lee outlined three ways Hong Kong could contribute to the development of Kazakhstan's innovative Alatau City: as a gateway to global capital, a gateway to the Chinese Mainland and the Greater Bay Area, and as a partner in talent and technology. "We share a development vision with Alatau City and Kazakhstan," Mr. Lee said. "Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together." He expressed hope for complementary advantages and coordinated development across sectors, inviting Kazakh enterprises to utilize Hong Kong's financial and innovation platforms and its world-leading professional services to explore new business opportunities.
