Hong Kong deepens ties with Uzbekistan under legal pact

The MOU covers dispute resolution, legal policy and AI technology.

Hong Kong and Uzbekistan have agreed to strengthen legal cooperation, covering dispute resolution, legal frameworks and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal sector.

Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Uzbekistan Minister of Justice Akbar Djurabayevich Tashkulov signed the memorandum of understanding during Lam’s visit to Tashkent, according to the Hong Kong government.

The two sides will exchange legal policy and dispute resolution experience and share their experience in applying AI technology in the legal sector.

Lam said Hong Kong’s connection to mainland China and international markets, along with its common law system, could support Uzbek enterprises seeking to expand into Hong Kong, mainland China and international markets.

Lam and a delegation from Hong Kong’s legal, dispute resolution, financial and accounting sectors also met representatives from the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce for Chinese Entrepreneurs and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Uzbekistan.

They discussed the legal services needs of Uzbek businesses and ways to support companies using Hong Kong’s professional services to enter international markets.

Lam also attended a lunch with Tashkent Mayor Umurzakov Shavkat Buranovich, where he introduced Hong Kong’s institutional advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle and explored opportunities for cooperation.

The delegation met officials from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy & Finance and Ministry of Investment, Industry & Trade to discuss Hong Kong’s experience in investment, cross-border trade, commercial matters and dispute resolution under the common law system.

They also explored how Hong Kong could support development of the Tashkent International Financial Centre.

Lam visited Tashkent State University of Law to discuss legal talent training and exchanges with its senior management.

He also met Shukhrat Shavkatovich Sadikov, Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to discuss exchanges and collaboration between legal professionals.