Hong Kong is devoted to deepening its foreign ties, the city’s leader has said, while urging economies in Asia to promote bilateralism and reject protectionism amid a fast-changing geopolitical environment.
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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also called for more collaboration between the city and mainland China’s Hainan province to promote free trade and market liberalisation.
“Hong Kong is a global city that thrives on connecting the world … We are devoted to deepening international exchange and collaboration,” Lee told attendees at the Global Free Trade Port Development Forum.
He said Hong Kong had signed investment deals with 33 economies and free trade agreements with 21 economies.
The event is part of the Boao Forum for Asia, which meets annually in Hainan and is sometimes known as the “Asian Davos”. This year’s forum is themed “Asia in the changing world: towards a shared future”.
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Lee also highlighted that Hong Kong had retained third place globally and first in Asia in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, which was published last week.