​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, continued to attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Bangkok, Thailand today (November 19) and exchanged views with leaders of other member economies on sustainable trade and investment.
At the second session of the AELM Retreat this morning, Mr Lee said Hong Kong has been leveraging its unique strength as the world's freest economy, pursuant to the "one country, two systems" principle, to promote free and open trade and investment. Hong Kong has thus far signed eight free trade agreements with 20 economies, covering more than half of APEC's membership. Hong Kong actively seeks early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to add momentum to the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific agenda, he added.
At the meeting, Mr Lee also reiterated Hong Kong's firm commitment to regional co-operation towards the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 for the prosperity of all mankind and the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
At the end of the meeting, Mr Lee and leaders of other APEC member economies endorsed the Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green Economy to advance inclusive and sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC 2022 Economic Leaders' Declaration that represents APEC's commitment to strengthening co-operation in addressing the common challenges in the region was also issued.
Mr Lee also met with the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, today to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong's economic and trade co-operation with Vietnam. He welcomed enterprises from Vietnam to develop in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee met with Mr Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Thailand. He congratulated Thailand for successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and thanked the Thai Government for their hospitality towards the Hong Kong, China delegation. Both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest such as further strengthening the economic, trade and investment co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Thailand.
In the evening, Mr Lee had dinner with a Hong Kong business delegation and Thai business leaders. Headed by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Dr Peter Lam, the business delegation comprises over 20 high-level representatives from different sectors, including leaders of major chambers of commerce, as well as representatives of such sectors as finance, commerce, industry, trade, innovation and technology, and transport and logistics.
Speaking at the dinner, Mr Lee said Hong Kong has been back onstage again and was committed to pursuing collaboration and mutually rewarding economic development with other economies. He said that Hong Kong has entered a new era of stability and prosperity and would strive to help Thai businesses find opportunities in Hong Kong and the Mainland. He introduced the new initiatives unveiled in his Policy Address in attracting talents and enterprises to Hong Kong, as well as the HKTDC's signature campaign "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" scheduled to take place in Bangkok in July 2023.
Mr Lee will lead the Hong Kong business delegation to visit Thai businesses in Bangkok tomorrow morning (November 20). He will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.
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