Chief Executive John Lee today met Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin who is in Hong Kong again after his last visit in October last year.

Welcoming the prime minister, Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong and Thailand have frequent economic and trade exchanges.

Thailand is Hong Kong's fourth-largest trading partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, while Hong Kong is one of Thailand’s major trading and investment partners.

Mr Lee also pointed out that the two places have close people-to-people cultural exchanges.

In particular, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Bank of Thailand launched a service for cross-border QR payments at the end of last year to provide visitors from both places with a safe and convenient retail payment means. In addition, a series of Thai-themed events held in Hong Kong in March and April were widely welcomed by locals and the Thai community in the city.

The Chief Executive highlighted that Hong Kong, with its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, can serve as an important hub connecting the Mainland with other economies. He encouraged Thai companies to make good use of Hong Kong’s role as a super connector and a super value-adder to tap into the Greater Bay Area market and participate in the development of the Belt & Road Initiative.

He also thanked Thailand and appealed for its continued support for Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government looks forward to further strengthening co-operation with the Thai Government in such areas as trade and commerce, investment as well as culture to achieve mutual benefits, the Chief Executive added.