CE meets Nobel Memorial Prize laureates in Economic Sciences (with photo)
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Mr Lee welcomed Professor Stiglitz and Professor Spence to Hong Kong to attend the International Forum on China's Economy and Policy 2025 to share their insights on the economic development of the world, the country and Hong Kong. Mr Lee said he was pleased that the two scholars are optimistic about Hong Kong's development prospects, recognise its notable strengths in education and I&T, and support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's various strategic plans of diversifying investments, exploring emerging markets, and further deepening collaborative developments in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to seize opportunities.
Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong enjoys the dual advantage of having national and global opportunities under the "one country, two systems" principle and will continue to play the roles of a "super connector" and "super value-adder", connecting the Mainland with the world, fully integrating into the overall national development and actively dovetailing with GBA developments. As one of the core cities of the GBA, Hong Kong plays a vital role in driving regional development. The HKSAR Government will continue to collaborate with GBA cities in strengthening connectivity and enhancing the flow of people, goods, data and capital, with a view to further encouraging and supporting enterprises and talent to grasp development opportunities in the GBA.
Mr Lee highlighted that Hong Kong is the world's freest economy, which attracts global capital and top talent, and has maintained its position of third globally and first in Asia Pacific as an international financial centre according to the newly published Global Financial Centres Index. Hong Kong is the only city worldwide that hosts five universities ranked among the world's top 100, and its ranking leapt to fourth globally in the newly published World Talent Ranking 2025, marking its highest-ever ranking. The HKSAR Government is actively accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town and promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand to further develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and high-calibre talent.
Noting that the world is undergoing unprecedented changes at an accelerating pace and facing global economic uncertainties, Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government is continuously seeking new growth opportunities. Among these, the Northern Metropolis being developed at full steam serves as a new engine for Hong Kong's economic growth, boasting significant development potential and economic value. It is expected to create more jobs and enhance productivity for Hong Kong. At the same time, the HKSAR Government is vigorously promoting I&T, artificial intelligence, and related industries, while advancing the development of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, and fostering the integrated development of education, technology, and talent to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre with a view to contributing to the country's high-quality development.
Ends/Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:45
Issued at HKT 18:45
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