Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is planning to lead a delegation of over 50 business leaders — from both the city and the Chinese mainland — to Qatar and Kuwait this Saturday, marking his second visit to the Middle East since he took office in 2022.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said the high-powered trip aims to strengthen economic and trade ties with the two nations, while reinforcing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s role as a “superconnector” between the mainland and the rest of the world.
The delegation will includes about 30 executive from the city’s finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation, energy and transportation sectors, together with 20 mainland business leaders from Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces.
During the visit, the group will meet with senior officials, tour key facilities, and explore opportunities in finance, trade, and technology.
Lee highlighted Qatar and Kuwait as dynamic economies with strong growth potential, noting that the trip would enhance government-to-government communication, foster collaboration, and clarify policy directions for businesses.
This follows Lee’s first Middle East trip as chief executive in February 2023, when he visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, resulting in 13 memorandums of understanding across finance, technology, and energy sectors.
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The upcoming visit signals the HKSAR’s long-term commitment to the region, with plans to expand its Middle East economic and trade offices.
Lee emphasized that the delegation would deepen exchanges, consolidate networks, and expand Hong Kong’s circle of friends.
In recent years, Hong Kong has bolstered efforts to strengthen ties with emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Middle East amid escalating trade tensions between China and the United States.
Since assuming office in 2022, Lee has also visited members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations three times. Most recently, he paid a six-day visit to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in mid-2024 and witnessed the signing of over 50 cooperation agreements with local public and private sectors.
