The Zhitong Finance App learned that Hong Kong Chief Executive Li Jiachao said that bilateral economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and Central Asia have continued to grow steadily in recent years. The total bilateral trade in goods exceeded US$324 million last year, an increase of 27% over 2020. He pointed out that under the advantage of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has a common law system and a simple low tax system. At the same time, it has rich and diverse talents, and can provide professional services to help international and Central Asian enterprises explore the Chinese market and promote the development of bilateral relations.
In June of this year, Li Jiachao led a delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for in-depth discussions on finance, trade, innovation and infrastructure, and opened up a wider space for cooperation between Hong Kong and Central Asia.
Li Jiachao said that many of the companies in the delegation have successfully established close relationships of mutual trust with their Central Asian partners and are starting cooperation projects. The special overseas class established last year will continue to support companies and expand their business to Central Asia.
Li Jiachao also mentioned that a Hong Kong airline will launch a direct service from Hong Kong to Almaty in January next year, which will help Hong Kong and Kazakhstan better develop a “hub-to-hub” partnership and promote business exchanges. The Hong Kong government has also expanded the scope of the Economic and Trade Office in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, to promote bilateral economic and trade relations.