A high-level delegation from Hong Kong, led by Chief Executive John Lee, has returned from a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements, marking a significant step in deepening ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland. The delegation, which included over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, spanned sectors from services to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure.
During the May 31 to June 5 visit, 15 cooperation documents were signed at the government level with each country. Lee highlighted the breadth of agreements, stating, "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. I think the sky is the limit." The outcomes underscore Hong Kong's role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, with the city acting as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to foster hub-to-hub cooperation.
Lee emphasized Kazakhstan's strategic importance as a commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe, noting it as the birthplace of the Belt and Road Initiative and Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia. He also pointed to opportunities in Uzbekistan, which sits at the heart of the Asia-Europe corridor, for logistics, railway development, and cargo handling cooperation. A video from the visit is available here.
The Chief Executive encouraged Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong's advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, including 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," Lee said. A related video can be viewed here.
Building on the delegation's success, 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, Lee outlined three ways Hong Kong could contribute to Alatau City, a planned innovative, high-tech hub: 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," Lee said. "Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together."
Lee expressed optimism for complementary development across sectors and invited Kazakh enterprises to utilize Hong Kong's financial and innovation platforms, as well as its professional services, to explore new business opportunities. The agreements signal a strengthening of economic corridors that could impact trade, investment flows, and infrastructure development across Eurasia, offering Hong Kong businesses expanded access to Central Asian markets and resources.
