Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will launch the largest-ever overseas visit by his administration in June, leading a 60-strong delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to cement official and economic cooperation.

Business leaders in the city said they see complementary strengths and huge potential for cooperation between the Hong Kong SAR and the two countries, and hope Lee’s visit will broaden trade frameworks and boost project matching.

The trip, unveiled by Lee at a press conference on Tuesday, will be his first official visit to the two Central Asian countries, both of which are key trading partners of Hong Kong. 

The delegation will comprise senior HKSAR government officials and over 30 business representatives, as well as more than 30 entrepreneurs from over 10 regions of the Chinese mainland.

ALSO READ: HK eyes expanding global trade network to more emerging markets

Speaking before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said that during the visit he will meet senior local government officials to establish intergovernmental ties and jointly advance cooperation and exchanges.

The delegation will also connect with local businesses, tour enterprises and facilities, aiming to promote Hong Kong's advantages while also exploring new business networks and building a foundation for long term exchanges, the chief executive said.

Hong Kong business leaders travelling with the delegation will come from sectors such as commerce, finance, legal services, logistics, and innovation and technology. Representatives from mainland enterprises will hail from industries including energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, high‑end manufacturing, and automobiles, Lee said.

Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told China Daily that changes to the global political and economic landscape have provided broader room for cooperation between the SAR and Central Asia.

He said the two sides have vast room for collaboration, citing Central Asia’s rich natural resources and the SAR’s institutional advantages such as free capital flows, a robust legal system and arbitration services, and its close connection with mainland and Southeast Asian countries.

He said his chamber will continue to work with authorities to support Central Asian companies setting up in the Hong Kong SAR through business matching, thematic seminars and high level exchanges.

READ MORE: BRI legal aid association formed

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) told China Daily that both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are mature destinations for mainland enterprises entering the Central Asian market.

Kazakhstan alone accounts for more than 30 percent of the Chinese mainland’s direct investment in Central Asia, spanning natural resources, infrastructure and manufacturing. The Hong Kong SAR, as a preferred platform for mainland firms going global, can play a bridging role - helping them to connect with professional service partners and more efficiently explore market access in both countries, said the HKTDC.

As well as being an economic powerhouse in Central Asia accounting for around 60 percent of its GDP, Kazakhstan is also Hong Kong's top trading partner in the region. Uzbekistan, which is the most populous country in the region with 38 million people, borders all other regional states and has seen its GDP rise 5 percent annually in recent years.

Both nations are active participants in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China in 2013.

Since assuming office in 2022, Lee has paid multiple overseas visits to cement Hong Kong’s ties with major trading partners. He went to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on a 2023 tour, followed by a back-to-back trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in 2024, and a visit to Qatar and Kuwait in 2025.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com