Chief Executive John Lee today met with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn to exchange views on deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and the bloc's member states.

Mr Lee welcomed Mr Kao's visit to Hong Kong, noting that the city has maintained close trade and economic ties with ASEAN, which has been Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner since 2010.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is pressing ahead at full steam with the formulation of its First Five-Year Plan. As an international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong is actively developing into an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent.

Hong Kong will continue to deepen exchanges and co-operation with ASEAN member states in areas such as trade, investment, finance, logistics and innovation and technology, to jointly promote regional economic development and achieve mutual benefits.

Mr Lee emphasised that Hong Kong serves as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of strong backing from the motherland while maintaining a close connection to the world. It will proactively serve as a super connector and a super value-adder, leveraging its role in “bringing in and going global” to provide ASEAN enterprises with a high-quality business environment and diversified professional services.

Through the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, the Hong Kong SAR Government supports Mainland enterprises in expanding into markets including ASEAN, thereby promoting the two-way flow of trade and investment in the region.

Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government established an Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last year, which is the fourth Economic and Trade Office established by the Government in an ASEAN member state, to further enhance economic and trade exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the region.

He concluded that Hong Kong will continue to maintain close exchanges with the ASEAN Secretariat and solicit support from other stakeholders for Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau also attended the meeting.