CE and Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Discuss Enhanced Cooperation and Investment Opportunities Between Two Sides

CE meets Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (June 10) met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Kanat Bozumbayev, at Government House to exchange views on deepening co-operation between the two places. The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip, also attended the meeting.

Mr Lee said he was pleased to meet Mr Bozumbayev for the first time and welcomed him and his delegation to Hong Kong for the Alatau City Investment Round Table event scheduled to take place tomorrow (June 11). Mr Lee noted that a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises led by himself had successfully concluded a visit to Central Asia last week and made various achievements. During his visit to Kazakhstan, Mr Lee met respectively with the President of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov; and two Deputy Prime Ministers, to exchange views on topics such as finance, economic and trade relations, and innovation and technology, and to establish high-level liaison between the governments. He thanked the government of Kazakhstan for the great importance it had attached to the visit, providing high-level hospitality and meticulous arrangements for the visit. Mr Lee witnessed the signing of multiple agreements between the two sides, including eight co-operation documents at the government level and 53 co-operation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding beyond the government level, covering such areas as trade and economic co-operation, investment, finance, technology and aviation. These fruitful results have brought co-operation between the two places to a new level. Mr Lee added that he was delighted to further follow up on these outcomes with Mr Bozumbayev today, and looks forward to the continuous deepening of co-operation between the two sides in the future.

Mr Lee said that Hong Kong supports and upholds free trade and multilateralism, as it continues to deepen international exchanges and co-operation, strives to create new trade corridors, and explores emerging market opportunities. Kazakhstan is an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative was first proposed, and is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia. There are broad prospects for further co-operation. The multiple outcomes achieved during Mr Lee's visit demonstrate Hong Kong's role as a functional platform for the B&R Initiative, as the city actively plays its roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to promote broader and deeper co-operation between the two places and establish a hub-to-hub co-operation model. With the launch of direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of next year, people-to-people exchanges between the two places will become even more frequent.

Mr Lee noted that Kazakhstan is promoting reforms on various fronts and driving economic diversification. It is making every effort to develop Alatau City, with a focus on technological innovation and green growth. Hong Kong harnesses its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle in connecting the Mainland and the world, ranking No. 1 globally in economic freedom. Hong Kong is speeding up the development of the Northern Metropolis as the city strives to become an international innovation and technology centre. Mr Lee said he looks forward to Hong Kong and Kazakhstan achieving complementary advantages and co-ordinated development across different sectors. He welcomed enterprises in Kazakhstan to make good use of Hong Kong's premier financial and innovation and technology platforms, as well as its world-leading professional services, to explore more business opportunities. At the same time, Hong Kong will further help local and Mainland enterprises to go global and discover more opportunities, venturing into a new blue ocean in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (right), meets with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Kanat Bozumbayev (left), at Government House today (June 10). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by USCST at opening ceremony of 40th International Travel Expo Hong Kong and 21st MICE Travel Expo

Following is the speech by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo (ITE) Hong Kong and 21st MICE Travel Expo today (June 11):

Mr Tong (Founder and Managing Director of TKS Exhibition Services, Mr Tong Kam-shing), (Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People's Government, Ms Jiang Erxiong), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), Director Zhang Dong (Director of the Asia Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China), Consuls General, friends from the trade, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I am happy to join you at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo and the 21st MICE Travel Expo. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government, I extend our warmest welcome to you all.

This 40th anniversary of the International Travel Expo is a historic milestone. I am delighted to see more than 400 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions gathered here. It is wonderful to see that the China Pavilion returns as the largest showcase this year, alongside new exhibitors joining from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Your presence is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a premier destination for business and leisure.

Last year, Hong Kong welcomed about 50 million visitors, a 12 per cent increase over 2024. This momentum has carried into 2026. In the first five months, we received about 23 million arrivals, a 14 per cent year-on-year growth. This robust performance fuels growth across our hotels, retail, and catering sectors.

Yet, Hong Kong's story is told not just in numbers, but in the unique experiences that blend culture, sports, and tourism. For sports fans, the excitement ranges from the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens to the Hong Kong Football Festival with legendary European clubs. For art lovers and cultural enthusiasts, we host premier global events like Art Basel, Art Central, ComplexCon and world-class concerts and exhibitions. Together with different flagship events organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), like the International Dragon Boat Races to be held later this month, the Wine & Dine Festival in end-October and the New Year Countdown, there is always a reason to visit.

As Asia's culinary capital, our vibrant dining scene is showcased by hosting the award ceremonies of World's 50 Best Bars in 2025 and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants this year. HKTB's "Taste Hong Kong" Gourmet Guide further amplifies this narrative, leading visitors to explore from the local flavours of "cha chaan tengs" to Michelin-starred dining.

The blend of lifestyle and professional pursuits makes Hong Kong a top "bleisure" destination. A critical driver of this visitor ecosystem is our Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. In 2025, there were about 2.5 million MICE visitors, a 7 per cent increase over 2024. The Government is committed to elevating Hong Kong's status as a premier MICE destination, and platforms like this Expo are pivotal to that goal.

This focus is amplified by Hong Kong's integral role within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which represents a vast, dynamic consumer market of over 86 million people. The excellent connectivity with the GBA unlocks the immense potential for "multi-destination" travel and elevates Hong Kong's value proposition as an unparalleled regional hub for business and tourism.

Looking ahead, the Government is charting a roadmap for sustainable growth of tourism. A key initiative is the proactive diversification of our visitor source market. We are very delighted to welcome a strong delegation of exhibitors from the Middle East to the Expo this year, which perfectly aligns with our ongoing efforts to expand Muslim-friendly tourism.

I encourage you not only to seize the business opportunities at this Expo but also to experience Hong Kong's vibrant pulse for yourselves.

Before I close, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to ITE 2026 for another year of success and wish everyone good health and prosperity. May your time in Hong Kong be rewarding and memorable.

Thank you.

Source: AI-found images