CE continues UAE visit

February 9, 2023

Site visit:

Chief Executive John Lee (second right) tours the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi.

Economic dialogue:

Chief Executive John Lee (right) meets UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai.

Forging partnerships:

Chief Executive John Lee (third left) witnesses the exchange of memoranda of understanding between Hong Kong and Dubai enterprises.

Download Video| Transcript

Voiceover:

Chief Executive John Lee continued his trip to the United Arab Emirates, or UAE, with a visit to the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone in Abu Dhabi.
 
He said it was a successful example of co-operation between China and the UAE under the Belt & Road Initiative, demonstrating the significance and the enormous potential of the initiative.
 
He  also talked to Mainland Chinese staff working in the zone to learn about their life there.

In the afternoon, Mr Lee departed for Dubai to continue his visit. He attended the UAE-Hong Kong Business Forum and Chinese New Year Gala Dinner and talked about Hong Kong's unique advantages and investment opportunities in his keynote speech.
 
He said the UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East region, and that the city wants to forge closer relations between the two places, particularly in areas such as green and sustainable finance.
 
Chief Executive John Lee:

Last December, President Xi Jinping addressed the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit to reaffirm our close ties established throughout the years. President Xi, in his keynote speech, called for China and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries to continue as partners for common development and cultural prosperity.
   	
Hong Kong is well aware of that. The UAE, after all, is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East region. We treasure our longstanding relations, and I believe that we can take them to another high level entirely.
 
Voiceover:

Afterwards, Mr Lee witnessed the exchange of three memorandums of understanding between Hong Kong and UAE enterprises on fostering co-operation in areas such as architectural professional services and innovation and technology.

Chief Executive John Lee continued his visit in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he toured local industrial facilities and a logistics group before starting his visit programme in Dubai.

In the morning, Mr Lee led the Hong Kong delegation to visit the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi.

He said the zone was a successful example of a joint effort between China and the UAE under the Belt & Road Initiative as it demonstrates the significance and the enormous potential of the initiative. He encouraged Hong Kong enterprises, by making good use of overseas economic and trade co-operation zones, to explore business opportunities in Belt & Road-related countries.

The delegation then visited the Abu Dhabi Ports Group and attended a luncheon. Noting that Hong Kong is an international maritime centre, Mr Lee shared his belief that companies in Hong Kong and the UAE as well as those in the Middle East could work together to grasp the opportunities brought about by the Belt & Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area by leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a springboard.

In the afternoon, the Chief Executive departed for Dubai to meet UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. During the meeting, he stressed that there is a world of opportunities in Hong Kong available to UAE businesses and investors, from new and traditional energies to smart city, transportation, logistics, financial technology and biotechnology. He expressed hope that Hong Kong and UAE firms could further explore collaboration opportunities under the Belt & Road Initiative.

Later in the day, he attended the UAE-Hong Kong Business Forum & Chinese New Year Gala Dinner.

While addressing representatives at the event, apart from emphasising that the UAE is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in the Middle East region, Mr Lee said Hong Kong looks forward to forging closer bilateral relations, particularly on green and sustainable finance, with the UAE.

Moreover, the Chief Executive witnessed the exchanges of three memoranda of understanding between Hong Kong and UAE enterprises on fostering co-operation in architectural professional services and innovation and technology, as well as business of enterprises or organisations between the two places.

Mr Lee will continue his trip in Dubai today.