The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will leverage its "bringing in and going global" role by providing enterprises from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with a high-quality business environment and diversified professional services, the SAR’s chief executive said on Friday.

John Lee Ka-chiu made his remarks during a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn at Government House, in which they exchanged views on deepening cooperation between the HKSAR and ASEAN member states.

The HKSAR has maintained close trade and economic ties with ASEAN, which has been the city's second-largest trading partner since 2010, according to Lee.

“Hong Kong will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN member states in areas such as trade, investment, finance, logistics, and innovation and technology, to jointly promote regional economic development and achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes,” Lee said.

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Serving as a superconnector and a "super value-adder", the SAR enjoys the unique advantage of having the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, Lee said.

Through the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, the HKSAR government supports Chinese mainland enterprises in expanding into markets, including ASEAN, to promote the two-way flow of trade and investment in the region, the chief executive said.

The Economic and Trade Office established by the SAR government last year in Malaysia — the fourth such office in ASEAN member states — will further promote economic exchanges and cooperation between the HKSAR and the region, Lee said.

The Hong Kong SAR will continue to maintain close exchanges with the ASEAN Secretariat and solicit support from other stakeholders for the city’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, he added.

Also attending the meeting was Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah.