Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po began his visit to Qatar on Sunday to attend the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and discuss expanding finance and economic ties with the Gulf country.  

Chan met in Doha with President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the AIIB Zou Jiayi; Qatar's Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari; and a number of Qatar’s political and business leaders to exchange views on deepening cooperation, according to a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government statement.

During his meeting with Zou, Chan had an in-depth exchange on issues including deepening cooperation between the two sides, promoting regional infrastructure development and sustainable development, and making better use of Hong Kong's strengths in financial markets, professional services and talent.

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He welcomed the AIIB's establishment of an office in Hong Kong, and looked forward to expanding cooperation on catastrophe bond issuance, green and transition finance, technology and innovation, and talent training.

Chan will also attend the official meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors, and deliver a keynote speech at a thematic session on digital public infrastructure.

In his meeting with Al Kuwari, Chan said the Middle East is actively promoting economic diversification and diversified asset allocation amid the current geopolitical situation, bringing new opportunities for Hong Kong and Qatar to deepen cooperation.

As an important platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can leverage its strengths in finance, trade, infrastructure development, innovation and technology, and professional services to complement Qatar's development needs, and promote capital flows and two-way investment, Chan added.

He then met with representatives of the Qatari Businessmen Association, including business leaders from finance, insurance, trade, energy and shipping industries.

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Chan introduced the HKSAR’s unique advantages under "one country, two systems" as a two-way platform connecting the Chinese mainland and the world, while highlighting the various opportunities offered by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis.

Hong Kong would be pleased to explore establishing mutual recognition arrangements with the Qatar Stock Exchange to facilitate dual listings in Hong Kong by Qatari enterprises wishing to expand their businesses in China and the Asia-Pacific region, Chan said.

He also met with Mohammed Al-Abdulla, CEO of Doha Venture Capital; Niall Byrne, chief financial officer of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA); and Ken McLaren, QIA chief of investment execution, to explore ways to strengthen two-way investment and industry collaboration.

Chan also briefed the senior management of Lesha Bank Group and Al Asmakh Group Holding on Hong Kong's economic, financial, trade and I&T development, and encouraged them to establish a presence in the SAR.

Chan will continue his visit to Doha on Monday and attend events related to the AIIB Annual Meeting before flying back to Hong Kong on Monday night.