A high-level delegation from Hong Kong, led by Chief Executive John Lee, concluded a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from May 31 to June 5, resulting in 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements. These include 15 cooperation documents at the government level, signaling a significant deepening of ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland.
The delegation comprised over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises across various sectors. The agreements span a wide range of industries, from service sectors 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 highlight Hong Kong’s role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a “super connector” and “super value-adder.” Mr. Lee emphasized Kazakhstan’s importance as a commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe, noting that it is where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed and is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. He also pointed to broad prospects for cooperation with Uzbekistan, which sits at the heart of the Asia-Europe corridor, particularly in logistics, railway development, and cargo handling.
The Chief Executive encouraged Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, including its own economic, social, legal, and judicial systems, as well as its status as a common law jurisdiction with no capital or foreign exchange controls.
Building on the delegation’s success, Mr. Lee welcomed Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev to Hong Kong on June 10. They attended the Alatau City Investment Round Table on June 11, where 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 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 looked forward to complementary advantages and coordinated development across sectors, inviting Kazakh enterprises to use Hong Kong’s financial and innovation platforms, as well as its professional services, to explore new business opportunities.
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