HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has hailed his four-day visit to Qatar and Kuwait with a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland enterprises, saying it yielded fruitful results.
Speaking to the media in Kuwait City on the completion of the visit on Wednesday, the CE talked about achievements made in six areas.
“We strengthened relations between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the governments of Qatar and Kuwait, establishing a collaborative consensus.”
The Middle East visit resulted in a total of 59 memoranda of understanding and agreements – 35 in Qatar and 24 in Kuwait – spanning across diverse areas and laying a robust groundwork for multifaceted cooperation, he said.
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The visit helped leverage the SAR’s strengths under the “one country, two systems” principle in connecting the mainland and the world, deepening international exchanges and cooperation, and demonstrating the synergistic power of the complementary advantages between Hong Kong and the mainland, he said.
The trip further built relations with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries to explore greater business opportunities, deepened mutual understanding, strengthened commercial and trading networks, and further enhanced cultural exchanges with the GCC countries, according to Lee.
Speaking two days after announcing Qatar's new 30-day visa-free arrangement for HKSAR passport holders, he said: “I am pleased now to further announce that the UAE (United Arab Emirates) will grant Hong Kong 30-day visa-free access starting May 15, while Oman will on the same date extend its visa-free period from 10 days to 14 days.”
READ MORE: HKSAR passport holders granted visa-free access to Qatar, UAE
He also highlighted that in meetings with leaders and officials in Kuwait and Qatar, he appreciated their forward-looking vision and their understanding of Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages under “one country, two systems” as a bridge between the mainland and the world.
“Middle Eastern countries are seeking diversification of risks and looking for opportunities in China and the Hong Kong SAR in order to join the tide of the global economic shift towards the East. In this, Hong Kong has boundless opportunities.”
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The Middle East visit has elevated Hong Kong's relations with Qatar and Kuwait to a new level, bringing more business opportunities to Hong Kong, added the CE.
