Amid the heated US-China economic and trade negotiations in Geneva, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s visit to Qatar and Kuwait — his second visit to the Middle East since assuming office — is a strategic masterstroke.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region demonstrated its increasing interest in collaborating with its sister provinces on the Chinese mainland to unlock the vast potential within the Gulf states. The high-profile visit included an all-star delegation of some 50 business leaders from industries in which China, especially the HKSAR, holds a competitive advantage. The fields include finance, infrastructure, energy, logistics, and technology. The HKSAR is now proactively engaging with the international community while integrating into national development — all aligned with Beijing’s directives. This is how the city is finding its new positioning.

Hong Kong senses a strong urge to shift its focus. Reaching out to wealthy states in the Middle East is a wise step in the right direction. As the wealthy, fast-growing Gulf states diversify their investments and the Chinese market becomes their new promised land, Hong Kong can serve both parties as a superconnector.

China has much to offer the oil-rich countries in the Gulf. Facing increasingly challenging situations due to the waning prospects of fossil fuels, the Gulf Cooperation Council states are boldly cultivating new pillar industries. For example, Qatar is diversifying its economy, making logistics, manufacturing, and transportation its core pillars. These countries look to China’s success in the new economy, such as the green energy industry and technology, for inspiration.

In the Middle East, it is widely acknowledged that the HKSAR is a springboard to China. Lee’s previous visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the “first fruit” of the HKSAR government’s Middle East policy. Thirteen strategic cooperation agreements were established during those visits. Consequently, a wave of collaborations between Hong Kong and the Middle East emerged. Hong Kong-based financial institutions have facilitated Saudi Arabia’s $10 billion-plus equity offerings and the integration of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai exchanges into the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing bourse network. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a $1 billion fund aimed at helping companies connected to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area expand their operations in Saudi Arabia. The number of Middle Eastern companies establishing a presence in Hong Kong surged by over 20 percent annually last year.

Lee, with his forward-looking vision, sees the urgency for Hong Kong to diversify its economic engagements, rather than “putting all its eggs in one basket”, or exclusively relying on the Western market. There is a natural synergy between the Middle East and Hong Kong. The former is transforming its economic structure, and the latter is navigating geopolitical uncertainties.

The HKSAR is a springboard for both China and the Middle East, providing cost-effective services that minimize risks and uncertainties. While Chinese State-owned enterprises are investing in the Middle East, Hong Kong’s expertise in finance and accounting will facilitate the process. The city must reinforce its position as a strategic conduit of the markets between China and the rest of the world.

By supplementing the investment projects of major Chinese enterprises with professional services from Hong Kong, the collaboration of the two is able to provide an optimized solution to their Gulf partners.

In essence, Hong Kong’s unique bridging function proves indispensable in fostering cross-border integration. The city’s bilingual common law system, its world-renowned commercial arbitration services, and its free trade system combined make the city one of the world’s most dynamic economies.

What has happened in the Middle East underscores a pattern of success — combining the strengths of Chinese provinces and the HKSAR is invincible. In this sense, Hong Kong is not only a superconnector, but also a value generator.

As the global economic landscape undergoes significant changes, Middle Eastern countries are seeking technological empowerment for economic transformation by welcoming Chinese investors and technologies. Notably, coinciding with Lee’s mission to the Middle East, the HKSAR government has announced plans to expand its Economic and Trade Office network in the region. In addition to the existing Dubai ETO, a new office will be established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a strategic response to the growing commercial activities and hinting at further regional expansion.

Hong Kong’s unique role as a superconnector, which merges Eastern and Western institutional benefits with top-tier professional services, uniquely positions it to facilitate China’s increasing global integration and assist international partners in navigating the mainland market. This dual bridging function stands as Hong Kong’s most strategic asset to national development in this new era.

The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.