Chief Executive John Lee met with Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov at Government House today (6th) to exchange views on further strengthening cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau, and Director of the Chief Executives Office Carol Yip also attended. John Lee said Hong Kong is a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, while Uzbekistan is a major Central Asian country with abundant natural resources and a strong labor force, enjoying rapid economic growth. As proactive participants in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, both sides have broad room for cooperation. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages under One Country, Two Systems, being backed by the motherland and connected to the world, deepen international exchanges and cooperation, actively expand Belt and Road markets, and further strengthen collaboration with Uzbekistan across different areas to jointly seize Belt and Road opportunities. John Lee noted that Hong Kong is an international financial, shipping and trade center, the worlds fifth-largest merchandise trading economy, and the worlds top-ranked free economy. With a highly internationalized and market-oriented business environment, Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international innovation and technology center and a global hub for high-caliber talent. Uzbekistans economy is developing rapidly and is vigorously promoting infrastructure development. There is vast potential for cooperation between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan. He encouraged more Uzbekistan enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, leveraging the citys connectivity with the Mainland and the world to expand into Mainland and overseas markets. Hong Kong will continue to serve as a super connector and super value-adder, working with Uzbekistan to explore more business opportunities for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. John Lee added that Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international hub for post-secondary education and is the only city in the world with five universities ranked among the global top 100. The SAR Government has established a dedicated team for promoting Study in Hong Kong and offers the Belt and Road Scholarship to attract outstanding students worldwide. He welcomed more young people from Uzbekistan to study and pursue careers in Hong Kong, further promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two places. (hc/a)
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