Hong Kong is well-positioned to provide capital allocation support for projects of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, including those related to carbon neutrality and green economic transformation, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday.

He spoke during a meeting with AIIB President Zou Jiayi at Government House where they exchanged views on strengthening regional financial cooperation.

Zou and her delegation are in the special administrative region to attend the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministerial Meeting which opens on Tuesday.

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Lee said the SAR remains one of the world’s leading international financial centers, ranking as the freest economy, and placed third globally and first in Asia in the Global Financial Centers Index.

With the unveiling Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-30) and the 2026 Policy Address last month, the city will continue to consolidate and enhance its financial strengths and boost development in areas like green finance, financial technology and the offshore renminbi business, Lee said.

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These will help support the AIIB’s project financing, fundraising and financial management to promote Asia’s sustainable development of infrastructure, he added.

Lee welcomed the bank’s continued use of Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial hub, saying the lender’s issuance of Hong Kong dollar bonds in the city in recent years testifies to the achievements of financial cooperation between the two sides.

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He said he’s pleased that the AIIB will soon establish an office in the SAR, demonstrating the city’s role as a gateway connecting the country and the world.

The HKSAR government will fully support the establishment and operation of the office, giving full play to Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to facilitate the AIIB’s business expansion, Lee added.