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 outcomes in deepening bilateral relations and economic cooperation. The delegation, comprising over 70 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, marked the largest and most diverse overseas mission under the current HKSAR Government.
Speaking to the media in Uzbekistan on June 4, Lee outlined three main objectives: exploring emerging markets for long-term economic development, strengthening government-to-government (G2G) relationships, and building a “hub-to-hub” cooperation model. The visit yielded achievements in eight areas, including the signing of 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs)—61 with Kazakhstan and 35 with Uzbekistan—involving specific amounts exceeding US$1.65 billion in total.
Key outcomes included establishing high-level contacts and consensus on cooperation in multiple fields, commencing bilateral discussions on various agreements, and deepening project matching in finance, innovation and technology (I&T), and aviation. The delegation demonstrated Hong Kong’s role as a platform for going global, with Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises jointly tapping new markets. The visit also promoted people-to-people exchanges through discussions on direct flights, aviation cooperation, and extensions to mutual visa-free periods. Additionally, it advanced a hub-to-hub cooperation model to broaden collaboration between Hong Kong and Central Asia.
In Tashkent, Lee met with President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, Advisor Sardor Umurzakov, Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, and Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjayev to exchange views on furthering cooperation. Lee emphasized that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys both China’s advantages and global connectivity, positioning it as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to deepen ties with Uzbekistan.
On June 3, Lee met with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, jointly witnessing an exchange of notes on a mutual visa-free arrangement allowing a 30-day visa-free period for visitors from both sides. “Moreover, we are glad to have initialed the Air Services Agreement with Uzbekistan, and look forward to launching direct passenger flights between the two places soon,” Lee said at a business dinner on June 4. He noted that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan are important trade and investment gateways to the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, respectively, and are both believers in the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative, which revitalizes the Silk Road.
The delegation toured IT Park Uzbekistan and the Center for Islamic Civilization before concluding the visit. Details of the agreements and further cooperation can be explored through official channels such as Brand Hong Kong.
