Hong Kong to further enhance cooperation with ASEAN: HKSAR chief

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on Friday to discuss deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN member states.

During the meeting, Lee said that the HKSAR government is pressing ahead with the formulation of its first five-year plan. Hong Kong will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN member states in areas such as trade, investment, finance and logistics to jointly promote regional economic development and achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, he added.

Highlighting Hong Kong's role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, Lee said the city will serve as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" and leverage its role in "bringing in and going global" by providing ASEAN enterprises with a high-quality business environment and diversified professional services.

Lee added that Hong Kong will continue to maintain close exchanges with the ASEAN Secretariat and solicit support from other stakeholders for Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Hong Kong is one of Asia's leading international financial, trade and shipping centers. The city serves as a key gateway between the Chinese mainland and global markets, supported by its role as an international financial hub.

(Cover: A view of Hong Kong, China, August 7, 2026. /VCG)