The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, today (November 20, Lima time), exchanged views with economic leaders on challenges to free trade and investment in the current global context at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2016 Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Lima, Peru.
 
     At the AELM retreat this morning, Mr Leung deliberated with economic leaders on the regional and global economic outlook and how APEC could promote voluntary reforms in support of free trade and capital mobility; boost small and medium-sized enterprises' internationalisation and participation in global value chains; and adopt shared goals to maximise the opportunities offered by digital trade, services and the knowledge economy.
 
     Noting a rising trend of trade protectionism, Mr Leung called on member economies to uphold free trade and investment liberalisation and embrace voluntary reforms, as these are the fundamentals of healthy economic growth. He said that Hong Kong, as an international legal services and dispute resolution centre, can support member economies to strengthen their economic and legal infrastructure which could facilitate structural reform.
 
     Mr Leung said Hong Kong is dedicated to becoming a knowledge-based economy, and pointed out that the Government has stepped up policy support for innovation activities and adaptation of the latest technologies to upgrade the productivity of businesses.
 
     Food safety and regional connectivity were also among the major discussion topics at the AELM retreat. Citing a number of transport infrastructure projects embarked on by Hong Kong as examples, Mr Leung said that the city is committed to strengthening physical and people-to-people connectivity with other economies.
 
     Earlier in the day, Mr Leung attended an informal conversation on the global economic context during which the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, shared her views on the near-term global economic outlook and its significance.
 
     Before leaving Peru in the evening, the Chief Executive met President Xi Jinping and briefed him on Hong Kong's latest developments.
 
     Mr Leung will arrive in Hong Kong at around noon on November 22.

Ends/Monday, November 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 7:37

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