The Home Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cultural Co-operation today (March 21).
 
     Representing the HKSAR Government, the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Betty Fung, signed the MoU with the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Kuatzhan Ualiyev.
 
     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Deputy Director of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Zhaken Taimagambetov, and the Director of the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Assylkhan Saduov, also attended the signing ceremony.
 
     Mr Lau said, "Exchanges between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan opened avenues for co-operation and it gives me great pleasure to attend today the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation between Hong Kong and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
 
     "Looking forward, we are eager to step up collaboration with Kazakhstan and welcome the exchanges of arts groups and artists to showcase the best of our arts and culture", Mr Lau added.
 
     Mr Ualiyev said, "I very much hope that the friendly relations between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan will also deepen in the future, and today's signing ceremony and all projects being implemented will serve as a bridge of friendship between our two peoples."
 
     The MoU reflects the joint efforts of Hong Kong and Kazakhstan in strengthening the cultural co-operation between the two places and provides a framework for promoting collaborative initiatives and exchanges in the fields of culture and the arts. Such co-operation will contribute to the furtherance of closer cultural ties and better understanding between the peoples of Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:36

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