​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand today (November 18) and exchanged views with the leaders of other economies on how to address barriers to trade and investment, promote resilient supply chains and closer people-to-people connectivity, as well as deepen economic and technical co-operation to enhance inclusive and sustainable growth.
      
     The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Retreat this year were held in two sessions. Mr Lee in the first session of the meeting today said that Hong Kong has formulated robust policy measures to respond to sustainability challenges. These included striving to slash Hong Kong's total carbon emissions by half of the 2005 level before 2035 with a pledge of carbon neutrality before 2050, as well as leveraging Hong Kong's international connectivity to facilitate matching between international capital and quality green projects, in particular those included under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative.
      
     Then, Mr Lee attended the APEC Leaders' Informal Dialogue with Guests. In his remarks, Mr Lee said that he was encouraged that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members welcomed Hong Kong's accession request to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Hong Kong looked forward to contributing its unique strengths in trade and investment to strengthen RCEP's leadership role as the world's largest free trade agreement.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Lee attended the APEC Leaders' Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council. Three Hong Kong, China's representatives, namely Ms Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group; Mr Nicholas Ho, Chairman of hpa (Ho & Partners Architects Engineers and Development Consultants Limited); and Ms Mary Huen, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, and Cluster Chief Executive Officer (Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau) of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, also attended the session. After that, Mr Lee attended a breakout session with the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Mr Wang Wentao; the Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, Mr Mohd Zuki Ali; the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrei Belousov; the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong; and the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
      
     Mr Lee also had a bilateral meeting with the President of Indonesia, Mr Joko Widodo, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. He sent his congratulations to Indonesia on successfully hosting the G20 Leaders' Summit, and looked forward to many more exchanges and deeper co-operation with Indonesia.
      
     Mr Lee also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Noting that Singapore is an important trading partner of Hong Kong, he welcomed Singaporean businesses to partner with Hong Kong to tap into the vast opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area and Belt and Road Initiative.
      
     In the evening, Mr Lee attended the Royal Audience and was received by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana.
      
     Mr Lee will attend the second session of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Retreat tomorrow (November 19) and have dinner with Hong Kong's business delegation and Thailand business leaders in the evening.

Ends/Friday, November 18, 2022
Issued at HKT 22:12

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