Hong Kong is increasingly turning its attention to Central Asia. Chief Executive John Lee led a week-long delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan starting on May 31, with the goal of exploring new opportunities for HK in the region.
Interest in Central Asia has grown alongside the rapid expansion of China–Central Asia cooperation in recent years. In 2020, China and the five Central Asian nations established a foreign ministers' meeting mechanism. In 2023, that framework was elevated to a leaders' summit mechanism involving the heads of state, reflecting the growing importance of the relationship.
For Hong Kong, Central Asia presents opportunities in three key areas: resources, people, and the market. Many countries in the region are rich in energy resources and mineral reserves. As an international financial centre, HK is well positioned to support their development through business listings, financing, and bond issuance.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were selected as the key destinations for the visit. Kazakhstan is the region's economic powerhouse, rich in oil, and by 2025, it had become HK's largest trading partner in Central Asia. Uzbekistan, with a population of around 38 million, is the most populous country in the region. It also boasts abundant reserves of natural gas, gold and cotton, and participated in HK's Filmart this year.
On the ground, the growing influence of Chinese brands is visible across Central Asian cities. People shop for Chinese electronics, and Chinese-made products can be found widely in supermarkets and stores.
Looking ahead, connectivity between HK and Central Asia is set to improve further. Beginning in the first quarter of next year, a direct flight between HK and Almaty is expected to reduce travel time to less than seven hours. The new route is expected to strengthen business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, while further enhancing HK's role as a gateway connecting the country and the wider region.
Related News:
Global Lens | Who is truly protecting minority languages and cultures?
Global Lens | Why Serbian President Vucic loves China so much？
Comment