Hong Kong will continue to play its roles as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", to work with Uzbekistan to explore more business opportunities for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday.
While meeting Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, the CE pledged to expand Hong Kong’s presence in Belt and Road markets and strengthen cooperation, saying that there is vast potential for cooperation as both places are active participants in the Belt and Road Initiative.
He made the statement when he received the Uzbek prime minister and his delegation at Government House upon their arrival in Hong Kong for economic and trade events.
The CE encouraged Uzbek enterprises to establish a presence in the city and leverage its advantage in connecting with both the Chinese mainland and the world to explore more business opportunities, according to a government statement.
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Hong Kong is making every effort to develop into an international innovation and technology center and an international hub for high-caliber talent, apart from being an international financial, shipping and trading center, he said.
He also said Hong Kong is pressing ahead to develop into an international post-secondary education hub and is the only city in the world with five universities ranked among the world's top 100.
Pointing out that the special administrative region government has set up Task Force on Study in Hong Kong and has launched the B&R Scholarship to attract outstanding students around the world, Lee welcomed more young people from Uzbekistan to come to Hong Kong for further studies and career development and to further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two places.
Being the world’s fifth-largest trading entity in merchandise trade economy, and ranking No. 1 in the world in economic freedom, the city offers a highly internationalized and market-driven business environment, he added.
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah, and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip Man-kuen were also present during the meeting.
While speaking later at the Uzbekistan-China (Hong Kong) Economic Forum, the Hong Kong leader said the Uzbek prime minister’s presence at the forum “speaks volumes about the strength of the relations between Uzbekistan and China, our country.”
“Hong Kong believes in the power of multilateralism and win-win co-operation. We welcome the world, Uzbekistan very much included, to join us in pursuing and creating opportunity,” he added.
