Hongkong
China
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has made a breakthrough in bilateral relations with Kazakhstan: Chief Executive John Lee arrived in the republic on his first-ever official visit. Talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev were held in a format unprecedented in terms of representation scale.
Record Delegation: 75 Participants Set the Agenda
The visit was accompanied by the largest business mission in the history of John Lee’s overseas trips — comprising 75 senior officials and business leaders. Key sectors represented in the delegation include logistics and transport, green energy, mining, innovative technologies, artificial intelligence, and education. This composition clearly signals the priorities of economic rapprochement.
Financial Hub Meets Resource Potential
During the talks, President Tokayev emphasized Hong Kong’s unique role as a global hub for capital attraction and business activity. He expressed confidence that the current visit would serve as a catalyst for launching joint projects in the fields of investment, financial technologies, digital transformation, AI solutions development, and transport-logistics infrastructure.
Trade Growth +40%: Figures That Speak for Themselves
The factual basis for deepening dialogue was provided by impressive bilateral trade figures. In 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong grew by nearly 40%, reaching $178.8 million (compared to $130 million in 2024). To consolidate and scale this trend, the Hong Kong government announced plans to open a specialized trade and economic representative office in Kazakhstan.
Roadmap: From Tax Agreements to Direct Flights
The parties agreed to accelerate negotiations on two strategic documents: a comprehensive agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and an investment promotion and protection treaty. In parallel, work is underway on launching direct air services between the republic and the SAR — a step that would significantly simplify business contacts and tourist flows.
Belt and Road Initiative: A Common Point of Origin
Summing up the meeting, John Lee confirmed Hong Kong’s readiness to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Kazakhstan. He noted the symbolic significance of the location: it was in Kazakhstan that the Belt and Road Initiative was born, and Hong Kong is one of its most active and technologically advanced participants. This context adds an additional strategic dimension to the bilateral dialogue.
Prospects for Kazakh Exports
Beyond macroeconomic agreements, the parties discussed in detail opportunities for promoting Kazakh products to the promising Hong Kong market. Priority categories include agro-industrial goods, light industry products, and foodstuffs. For local producers, this represents a chance to access a high-paying Asian hub with further re-export logistics capabilities.
The first-ever visit by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive to Kazakhstan with a record-sized business delegation marks a qualitative leap in bilateral relations. The agreements reached lay an institutional foundation for long-term partnership — spanning financial and investment cooperation to practical steps in export diversification and transport connectivity development.
