A high-level delegation from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), led by Chief Executive John Lee, has returned from a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with significant outcomes that are expected to deepen economic ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland. The delegation, comprising over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, secured 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements, including 15 cooperation documents at the government level with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively.
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. I think the sky is the limit,” Mr. Lee said. The visit underscores 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 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 underway 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.
The Chief Executive also encouraged Central Asian companies to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle. “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,” Mr. Lee explained.
Building on the momentum, Mr. Lee welcomed Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Kanat Bozumbayev, to Hong Kong followed by the Alatau City Investment Round Table. At the event, Mr. Lee outlined three ways Hong Kong can contribute to the success 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. Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together,” he said.
The outcomes of the visit highlight Hong Kong’s strategic importance as a financial and innovation hub, offering world-leading professional services. Enterprises in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are encouraged to use Hong Kong’s platforms to explore new business opportunities. The delegation’s success demonstrates the city’s unique position in facilitating international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, with implications for trade, investment, and technological exchange across Asia and beyond.
