A high-level delegation from Hong Kong, led by Chief Executive John Lee, has returned from a six-day visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements, signaling a deepening of economic ties between Hong Kong, Central Asia, and the Chinese Mainland. The delegation, comprising over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, focused on forging opportunities across sectors ranging from services to heavy industries like mining and infrastructure.
During the visit, 15 cooperation documents were signed at the government level with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively. Chief Executive John Lee emphasized the breadth of cooperation, 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, acting as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to promote broader collaboration.
Kazakhstan, described by Lee as an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe and Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia, offers broad prospects for further cooperation. Lee noted that many Belt and Road projects are also being pursued in Uzbekistan, which sits at the heart of the Asia-Europe corridor, opening avenues for logistical and railway development, as well as cargo handling complementarity.
To encourage Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong's advantages, Lee highlighted the unique "one country, two systems" principle, which grants Hong Kong 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.
Building on the mission'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. Speaking at the event, Lee outlined three ways Hong Kong could contribute to 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," Lee said, adding that "right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together." He encouraged Kazakh enterprises to use Hong Kong's premier financial and innovation platforms, as well as its world-class professional services, to explore business opportunities.
The delegation's outcomes demonstrate Hong Kong's potential to establish a hub-to-hub cooperation model with Central Asia, leveraging its unique position under the Belt and Road Initiative. For readers, this development signals new investment and trade opportunities, particularly in logistics, finance, and technology sectors, as Hong Kong strengthens its role as a bridge between Central Asia and the Chinese Mainland.
