A large high-level business delegation led by John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), wrapped up a five-day visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on June 5, achieving significant results in strengthening bilateral relations and deepening ties with Central Asia. The delegation, comprising over 70 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, is the largest and most diverse overseas mission led by the current HKSAR Government.
Speaking to the media in Uzbekistan, Mr Lee outlined three main objectives: exploring emerging markets, strengthening government-to-government relationships, and building a "hub-to-hub" model of cooperation. The visit yielded achievements in eight areas, including establishing high-level contacts with the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, reaching 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (61 with Kazakhstan, 35 with Uzbekistan) involving specific amounts exceeding US$1.65 billion. The governments also agreed to commence bilateral discussions on various agreements.
Key outcomes included deepening project matching and research collaboration in finance, innovation and technology (I&T), and aviation; demonstrating Hong Kong's role as a platform for going global; facilitating people-to-people exchanges through direct flights and mutual visa-free arrangements; and promoting education, talent, and cultural exchanges. The hub-to-hub cooperation model aims to open broader cooperation between Hong Kong and Central Asia.
In Tashkent, Mr Lee met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and other senior officials, exchanging views on furthering mutual cooperation. He highlighted Hong Kong's advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle and its roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder." Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan are important trade and investment gateways to the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, respectively, and both are believers in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The delegation toured IT Park Uzbekistan and the Center for Islamic Civilization. A mutual visa-free arrangement allowing 30-day stays was exchanged, and an Air Services Agreement was initialed, paving the way for direct passenger flights. The visit underscores Hong Kong's commitment to deepening ties with Central Asia and leveraging its unique advantages to foster economic and cultural cooperation.
