HKETO Jakarta celebrates Year of the Dragon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (February 20) to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Some 350 guests from the local government, business, academic, cultural and media sectors attended.

In her welcoming speech, the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said the bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and Malaysia grew by 7 percent year on year to reach US$28.1 billion in 2022. In the same year, Hong Kong and Malaysia were each other's ninth-largest trading partners, manifesting close economic and trade ties in both directions.

"The Chief Executive led a high-level business and professional delegation to visit Malaysia in July last year. On top of the 11 memoranda of understanding and agreements signed with Malaysian entities, the Malaysian Government also announced an extension of the visa-free entry period for holders of the HKSAR passport to the country to 90 days, substantially strengthening Hong Kong's tourism, cultural and economic ties with Malaysia as a Belt and Road country."

"Malaysia has long been supportive of Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and is set to assume chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year. Hong Kong will maintain close communication with Malaysia and other ASEAN member states to strive for joining RCEP as soon as possible, with a view to contributing to this largest free trade agreement in the world," she added.

Miss Cheng also pointed out that in line with the various measures announced under the latest Policy Address, the HKETO Jakarta will organize a variety of cultural and arts events across Malaysia and enhance bilateral exchanges in such areas as education and youth to further bolster people-to-people ties. In addition, the Information Services Department will stage the "Immersive Hong Kong" roving exhibition in Kuala Lumpur from March 3 to 10 to showcase the strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong as Asia's world city to the local community through fascinating art-tech installations.

Dignitaries joining the dinner included the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Ms Lim Hui Ying; the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing; the Director of Malaysia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Hoh Jee Eng; and senior representatives from major business chambers in Malaysia.

To encourage Malaysian tourists to visit Hong Kong, the HKETO Jakarta collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to set up a thematic booth at the venue and solicited the support of the Airport Authority Hong Kong and airlines to give out round-trip air tickets between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur through a lucky draw session.

The HKETO Jakarta will be hosting events in Kota Kinabalu and Penang, Malaysia, this Thursday (February 22) and next Tuesday (February 27) respectively to celebrate the Chinese New Year.