CE leads delegation to begin visit programme to Kazakhstan (with photos/videos)
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In the morning, Mr Lee met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Mr Serik Zhumangarin, to exchange views on deepening economic co-operation between the two places. Mr Lee said that Kazakhstan has been actively promoting reforms on various fronts to bring about rapid economic growth. As one of the world's three major financial centres, and the world's largest cross-boundary wealth management centre and offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub, Hong Kong can provide diversified and flexible support including capital and asset allocation for Kazakhstan's economic reforms and infrastructure development. He cited as examples last year's dual listing of a Kazakhstani company in Hong Kong and Astana, and the first issuance of RMB "dim sum" bonds in Hong Kong by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, as landmark achievements in financial co-operation between the two places. He welcomed Kazakhstan's government and its enterprises to continue making use of Hong Kong's financial hub advantages by listing, issuing bonds and conducting project financing to connect with global investors and raise international funds for, and add value to, local development projects.
At noon, Mr Lee met with the President of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and attended a luncheon hosted by the President, to exchange views on deepening bilateral relations. Mr Lee said that President Xi Jinping first proposed the joint building of the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan in 2013. As the place where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, Kazakhstan is also Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia, with close economic and trade ties, and broad prospects for co-operation. He noted that Kazakhstan is committed to driving economic diversification and, like Hong Kong, it is an important economic powerhouse for regional development and a gateway for trade. As one of the world's most competitive economies, Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of being connected with both the Chinese Mainland and international markets, which aligns closely with the needs of Kazakhstan's industrial transformation. Mr Lee noted that this visit is the first overseas trip led by him since the establishment of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, and it is also the largest in scale, with over 70 enterprise and professional representatives from Hong Kong and the Mainland. He said that he looks forward to reaching multiple co-operation agreements during this visit to deepen collaboration in such areas as trade and investment promotion, financial services, I&T, and culture and tourism, as well as further exploring emerging markets and strengthening bilateral economic ties.
Mr Lee said that Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, and serves as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative. He said that Hong Kong will continue to play its roles as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", as it further deepens international exchanges and co-operation, and accelerates the development of new growth areas for the economy. He said that he looks forward to strengthening two-way co-operation between the two places, encouraging enterprises in Kazakhstan to make use of Hong Kong's professional services and business advantages to explore the markets of the Chinese Mainland and Asia, while enabling Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to go global, as they seize the development opportunities arising from Kazakhstan's economic reforms and set up business operations in Central Asia. He noted that with joint efforts, these enterprises could inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited the Astana Hub, a local technology and innovation park, to learn about the latest developments of Kazakhstan in the field of AI. He met with Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, Mr Zhaslan Madiyev. Mr Lee remarked that this year is the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence" of Kazakhstan, and that the Astana Hub, as a major international innovation cluster in Central Eurasia, brings together a large number of start-ups. Mr Lee also introduced Hong Kong's developments in I&T, noting that Hong Kong is actively advancing AI development and driving digital transformation to empower industrial upgrading and transformation. Hong Kong ranks fourth globally in digital competitiveness, and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranks first globally. Hong Kong is committed to becoming an international I&T centre, with the Northern Metropolis being developed at full speed. Covering such projects as the Hong Kong Park in the Loop, the San Tin Technopole, and the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, the Northern Metropolis will further promote the full integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, and foster new quality productive forces. He expressed confidence that the Astana Hub and Hong Kong will strengthen connectivity in research collaboration and other areas, and welcomed Kazakhstan's technology and innovation enterprises to set up operations in Hong Kong, leveraging Hong Kong's vibrant innovation ecosystem and robust research and development capabilities to venture into international markets and jointly seize the immense opportunities in technological development.
Mr Lee then visited the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) to learn about Kazakhstan's experience in promoting the development of the non-bank financial sector, and meet with the Governor of the AIFC, Mr Renat Bekturov. The AIFC is a national-level financial special zone established by Kazakhstan in 2018. It ranks first in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as a financial centre and has attracted over 5 500 enterprises to register. Hong Kong, meanwhile, ranks third globally and first in Asia in the Global Financial Centres Index. The two financial centres, both operating under the common law system, share the same direction and can strengthen co-operation in such areas as capital markets connectivity, asset management, green and sustainable finance, and financial technology, creating synergy in the joint promotion of regional economic development.
In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov.
Mr Lee will continue to lead the delegation during its visit to Kazakhstan tomorrow (June 2).
Ends/Monday, June 1, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:57
Issued at HKT 20:57
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