The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (January 14) and yesterday met with visiting senior officials of foreign governments and the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to them for serving as speakers at the 18th Asia Financial Forum, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and exchanged views with them on issues of mutual concern.
This afternoon, Mr Lee met with the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Adylbek Kasymaliev. Mr Lee said that under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantage of enjoying strong support from the motherland and maintaining close connection with the world. As an international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong has continuously converged diverse sources of capital, international enterprises, and professional talent. Mr Lee noted that the Kyrgyz Republic has seen robust growth and enjoys strong development potential. Mr Lee welcomed the Kyrgyz Republic to better leverage Hong Kong's advantages as a major financing centre, a sustainable finance hub and a global offshore RMB business centre, encouraging the country to raise sustainable development funds and issue RMB bonds in Hong Kong to explore overseas and Mainland markets and promote financial innovation. He added that Hong Kong is committed to enhancing co-operation with the Kyrgyz Republic and other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to promote mutual benefit and regional sustainable development.
Yesterday morning, Mr Lee met with the President of the AIIB, Mr Jin Liqun. Accompanied by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, Mr Lee extended his welcome to Mr Jin for visiting Hong Kong again, demonstrating his recognition and support for the city. Mr Lee noted that the AIIB has been supporting different developing countries in improving their infrastructure, making significant contributions to building a global community of shared future. He said that as a member of the AIIB, Hong Kong will make good use of its own robust financial system and unique advantages in bridging Eastern and Western cultures to contribute to the long-term development of the AIIB. He remarked that Hong Kong will continue to utilise its well-developed bond market to support the AIIB's efforts in promoting green development and international multilateral co-operation.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, met with the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue of Pakistan, Mr Muhammad Aurangzeb. The Pakistani Ambassador to China, Mr Khalil Ur Rahman Hashmi, was also present. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong actively dovetails with such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, and the Belt and Road Initiative, while ceaselessly enhancing its external exchanges, co-operation and economic and trade connections. As the world's freest economy, Hong Kong boasts a highly internationalised, market-oriented, and friendly business environment, making it an ideal place for companies to expand their global operations. He said that Pakistanis in Hong Kong have significantly contributed to the city's development and promoted cultural inclusion. Mr Lee expressed hope for closer economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and Pakistan to create more business opportunities for companies of both places.
Under the theme "Powering the Next Growth Engine", this year's Asian Financial Forum was held yesterday and today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The programme included thematic speeches, policy dialogue sessions, keynote luncheons and breakfast panels as well as fireside chats. Attendees included global leaders from governments and the financial and business sectors around the world.
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