Hong Kong – CE attends APEC meetings in Peru (with photos/videos)

     ​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, continued his visit in Lima, Peru, on November 15 (Lima time) to participate in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities, witness the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and Peru, and meet with leaders of Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore in turn.

     In the morning, Mr Lee participated in the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue with Guests. In his remarks, he said that Hong Kong, as an international trade, financial and professional services centre, can share its experience in digital transformation and sustainable finance in contributing to the acceleration of regional energy transition.

     Mr Lee highlighted that Hong Kong has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative to promote cross-border collaboration in trade and investment as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Hong Kong will continue to actively engage in the development of APEC, with a view to strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships with other member economies and jointly develop an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, he added.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Mr Lee said he is pleased to meet with the Prime Minister again since they last met during his visit to Malaysia in July last year. Since Hong Kong and Malaysia had agreed to promote diversified co-operation, officials from the two sides have conducted multiple reciprocal visits, further enhancing exchanges between the governments, business sectors, and people of the two places. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner, and Malaysia is Hong Kong’s third-largest trading partner among member states of the ASEAN. Hong Kong treasures the relations with Malaysia and is planning to establish an Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, to strengthen its co-operation with the ASEAN. Mr Lee congratulated Malaysia for its upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN next year and expressed hope that Malaysia will continue to support Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). 

     In the afternoon, Mr Lee participated in the APEC Leaders’ Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and a working lunch, where Hong Kong, China’s representative to ABAC, Ms Marjorie Yang, also attended. During the discussion session, Mr Lee exchanged views with the President of Chile, Mr Gabriel Boric, on topics such as the digital economy, digital trade, artificial intelligence development, and the multilateral trading system.

     During the meeting, Mr Lee congratulated Mr Luong Cuong on his recent appointment as the President of Vietnam. Noting that Hong Kong and Vietnam have always maintained close bilateral trade relations, Mr Lee said Vietnam is the seventh-largest trading partner of Hong Kong and the second-largest one among the member states of the ASEAN. He added that during his visit to Vietnam this July, the governments and enterprises of the two places signed 30 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in areas including trade, investment, education and tourism, yielding fruitful results. 

     Mr Lee then met with the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. Noting the close relationship between Hong Kong and Singapore, Mr Lee said that Singapore is the fourth largest trading partner of Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in the ASEAN, and has also ranked first among ASEAN countries as the largest place of origin in terms of the number of companies present in Hong Kong. Mr Lee noted that, during his visit to Singapore in July last year, enterprises and institutions of Hong Kong and Singapore signed seven MOUs on areas including commerce and trade, financial services, as well as innovation and technology. Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Heng Swee Keat, visited Hong Kong in April this year, which enhanced the interactions between the governments, people and the business sectors of the two places. Hong Kong will continue to strengthen multifaceted co-operation with Singapore, including the areas of green and digital economies as well as other emerging industries, Mr Lee added. He also expressed his gratitude to Singapore for its continued support for Hong Kong’s early accession to the RCEP.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee and the President of Peru, Ms Dina Boluarte, jointly witnessed the signing of the FTA between Hong Kong and Peru. Highlighting that Peru is Hong Kong’s fifth-largest trading partner in Latin America, Mr Lee said the FTA offers significant strategic value to both economies and allows Hong Kong to enter the promising market of Peru. The FTA will ensure the legal certainty of better market access for manufacturers, service providers and investors of Hong Kong and Peru, creating new business opportunities and boosting bilateral trade and investment flows, he added. 

     In the evening, Mr Lee attended a Gala Dinner hosted by the organiser for participating leaders, and watched cultural performances.

     On November 16 (Lima time), Mr Lee will attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Retreat and meet with representatives from the Peruvian business sector.