CE’s trip cements regional partnerships with a dozen cooperation agreements
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed 12 deals with Laos on Monday, marking a successful outcome for Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s landmark visit to the ASEAN state.
Lee, who wrapped up his two-day visit to Laos on Monday night, told reporters in a news conference that the trip — the first visit by a chief executive of the HKSAR to the landlocked country — will bolster mutual understanding on both government and civic levels, while demonstrating the enormous potential of collaboration in imports and exports, investments, tourism and professional services.
READ MORE: HKSAR, Laos sign 12 memorandums of understanding
He said he believes that Hong Kong can leverage its power in finance, trade and logistics to help the country boost its economy and support the Belt and Road Initiative.
Having arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Sunday, the first day of Lee’s six-day visit to three ASEAN countries, Lee together with several Hong Kong business leaders met with various political and business leaders on Monday.
The officials include Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith.
Lee and Saleumxay witnessed the signing of 12 memorandums of understanding, covering trade, investment, finance, education and energy.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council reached three deals with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos, and two local commerce chambers.
Two Hong Kong enterprises — Goldford Group and HashKey Capital — inked deals with Lao National Digital Technology Group.
Other business organizations involved in the agreements are InvestHK, CCB International (Holdings) Ltd, CLP SEA Infrastructure Ltd, the Hong Kong Shippers’ Council and Federation of Hong Kong Industries.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University inked a memorandum of understanding with the Vientiane Secondary School — a renowned high school in Laos’ capital — pledging to provide scholarships to Laotian students seeking for further study opportunities in Hong Kong.
The SAR’s Security Bureau also undertook to collaborate with their counterparts in Laos.
The participants signed documents with the Lao Customs Department, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, schools, and enterprise representatives.
Hong Kong can contribute to ASEAN countries in many ways, Lee said during his meeting with Saleumxay, adding that the primary purpose of his visit is to strengthen the connections between the two governments, and to increase exchanges between businesses and the people of Laos and the HKSAR.
Laos holds the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024. Lee expressed gratitude for Laos’ support of the HKSAR’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership — the world’s largest free trade bloc.
Saleumxay said that last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith jointly signed an action plan to strengthen the China-Laos community’s shared future, and that this had laid a solid foundation for bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
He also described the Hong Kong delegation’s visit as a good opportunity for the government and business sectors to discuss and further expand economic and trade cooperation between Laos and the HKSAR.
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On Monday, Lee had breakfast with members of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. With over 4,000 members, the chamber is the most representative business community in Laos.
The delegation also visited the Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone, a national-level economic development zone jointed established by enterprises from China and Laos, and Vientiane station, the southern terminal of the Laos-China Railway
Lee will travel to Phnom Penh in Cambodia on Tuesday and visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from Wednesday to Friday. The delegation will return to Hong Kong on Friday.
Contact the writers at fangxue@chinadailyhk.com
