Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu (right) poses for a photo with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape (left) during a meeting at Government House on Oct 15, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu on Sunday met here with visiting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape.

Lee welcomed Marape's visit to Hong Kong, saying Hong Kong and PNG have been maintaining a close relationship in business. The merchandise trade between the two places recorded a substantial increase of 34 percent in the past three years, from $65 million in 2019 to $87 million in 2022.

Lee encouraged more PNG enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's institutional strengths, such as the commitment to the rule of law, the free flow of information and capital, and a simple and competitive tax system, with a view to seizing opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative.

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Lee said he looks forward to continuing to strengthen ties between the two places, and jointly explore opportunities for further cooperation so as to achieve mutual benefits.