Chief Executive John Lee met Kuwait’s local leaders and business representatives, as well as visited cultural facilities on the first day of his visit to the country.
 
While leading a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, Mr Lee met the Amir, head of state of Kuwait Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Kuwait Acting Prime Minister Fahad Yousuf Saud Al-Sabah in the morning to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Kuwait.
     
Mr Lee then attended a roundtable meeting chaired by the Acting Prime Minister, engaging in in-depth discussions with senior officials of the Kuwait government on areas such as finance, trade, and innovation and technology (I&T).
 
Mr Lee and the Acting Prime Minister witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding by Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority respectively. He and the delegation also participated in a luncheon hosted by the Acting Prime Minister.
 
The Chief Executive noted that Kuwait is the first member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) to sign both an Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement and a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Hong Kong, establishing a robust framework and foundation for economic and trade co-operation between the two places.
 
He pointed out that Kuwait has been actively developing a diversified economy in recent years, proposing Kuwait Vision 2035 to promote digital transformation and develop the country into a regional and international financial and trade centre.
 
He highlighted that Hong Kong, as an international financial, shipping and trade centre with world-class professional services, has vast opportunities for co-operation with Kuwait in areas such as finance, investment, digital economy, and I&T, and can assist Kuwait in advancing its Vision 2035.
 
Underscoring that Kuwait is the rotating President of the GCC currently, Mr Lee expressed his anticipation to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Kuwait, adding that he looks forward to establishing closer economic, trade and cultural exchanges with more GCC member states.
 
Additionally, Mr Lee emphasised that Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the country with the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. Hong Kong will fully leverage its role as a bridge to serve enterprises in going global and attracting external investment, complementing the strengths of Mainland enterprises while deepening international exchanges and co-operation.
 
He welcomed the Kuwaiti Government and enterprises to utilise Hong Kong's role as a super connector and super value-adder to explore new opportunities under the Belt & Road Initiative for mutual benefit.
 
Later, Mr Lee and the delegation met representatives of a local corporation, Bukhamseen Group Holding Company, to learn about the latest developments in the company's businesses in construction, real estate, financial services, and culture and tourism.
 
Apart from introducing Hong Kong's development opportunities and its highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment with its pool of professional services talent, Mr Lee also welcomed the company to use Hong Kong as a springboard to develop diversified businesses and tap into the Mainland market, better grasping the immense opportunities brought by the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre to learn about Kuwait's arts and culture projects and developments.
 
Mr Lee made it clear that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, with the West Kowloon Cultural District as one of the world's largest arts and culture projects.
 
He noted that both Hong Kong and Kuwait place importance on arts and culture development, and he looks forward to further deepening connections and co-operation in cultural exchanges between the two places.
 
The delegation led by Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the State of Kuwait Zhang Jianwei.
 
Mr Lee thanked the embassy for making meticulous arrangements for the visit and for its continued support to the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Dubai.
 
The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to promote economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Kuwait.