The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to continue their visit in Jakarta, Indonesia, today (July 26). He visited the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway, a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative. He also visited local major enterprises and attended a business luncheon to exchange views with local business leaders.
      
     In the morning, Mr Lee visited the local office of a Hong Kong insurance company, FWD Group, to understand its business development in Indonesia. Noting that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner, and its market is continuously growing, Mr Lee expressed his hope that the Group could share its successful experience with other Hong Kong enterprises seeking to enter the ASEAN market.
      
     Later, Mr Lee visited an Indonesian conglomerate, Lippo Group, to learn about its developments in areas such as real estate, telecommunications and financial services. He introduced the latest economic developments of Hong Kong to the Group's representatives and encouraged them to further invest in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
      
     At noon, the delegation led by Mr Lee attended a business luncheon jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Addressing about 200 representatives of the Government and business leaders of Indonesia, Mr Lee introduced in his keynote speech Hong Kong's advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems" and the latest development opportunities.
      
     Government departments, enterprises and institutions of Hong Kong and Indonesia also signed 15 memoranda of understanding and agreements in such areas as trading and commerce, finance, logistics, maritime services, professional services, exchange of meteorological information, and co-operation in aerospace technology.
      
     In the afternoon, the delegation led by Mr Lee visited the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway to learn about the latest developments of the project. He said that the railway, which connects Jakarta and Bandung, the capital of West Java Province and the third-largest city of Indonesia, is a key project of the Belt and Road Initiative. He also said that the railway, which will be commissioned in August, bears a special meaning as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative.
      
     In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to ASEAN, Ms Hou Yanqi. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Mission of the PRC to ASEAN for its continuous support to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, and for its assistance in promoting Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
      
     Mr Lee will depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow (July 27) morning to continue his visit programme and will meet with local political and business leaders.

Ends/Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:30

NNNN