Hong Kong eyes deeper economic, trade ties with ASEAN

Other key areas include finance and logistics.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn to discuss deeper economic and trade ties between the city and the bloc.

Key areas of cooperation include trade, investment, finance, logistics, and innovation and technology.

Lee reiterated Hong Kong’s push to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, saying the government will engage the ASEAN Secretariat and other stakeholders to seek support for its accession.

Moreover, he said the city is supporting mainland Chinese companies expanding into ASEAN markets through the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global.

ASEAN has been Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner since 2010, with the government opening an Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur last year, its fourth such office in an ASEAN member state.