The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 2) led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to continue their visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on the last day of their visit to three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. He met with local government and business leaders, and visited a garment manufacturer to learn more about current developments in Vietnam.
      
     In the morning, Mr Lee met with the Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Mr Nguyen Ho Hai, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. Noting the rapid economic development of Ho Chi Minh City and the city's aspiration of developing into an international financial centre, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is willing to share its experience as a leading international financial centre and explore collaboration opportunities with Ho Chi Minh City.
      
     Mr Lee and the delegation then visited Tessellation Binh Duong, a garment manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong, to learn more about its experience in its business development in Vietnam.
      
     At noon, Mr Lee and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Phan Van Mai, attended a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Enterprises and organisations of Hong Kong and Vietnam exchanged 22 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in various areas at the luncheon. Addressing over 200 government and business representatives of Vietnam at the luncheon, Mr Lee remarked that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in ASEAN and Hong Kong's seventh-largest trading partner, highlighting the close economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
      
     Mr Lee met with Mr Phan after the luncheon. Noting that Hong Kong and Vietnam are important economic partners, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong and Vietnam will strengthen co-operation on various aspects in the future, including high-level visits and engagements.
      
     Mr Lee then met with representatives of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam. He appealed to the association to make good use of Hong Kong's superb financial, logistics and professional services and so on to explore overseas and Mainland markets. He also said that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office will continue to maintain close communication with the business community of Vietnam, with a view to further boosting bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
      
     During Mr Lee's visit in Vietnam, representatives of the governments, organisations and enterprises of Hong Kong and Vietnam exchanged a total of 30 MOUs in areas including trade and economic partnerships, investment, customs collaboration, education, logistics co-operation, tourism promotions, technological co-operation, aviation services, as well as financial, banking and capital market development.
      
     Concluding his visit, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong signed a total of 55 MOUs and agreements with Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam during the trip. He noted that the visit had achieved five results, including strengthening government-to-government relations and communications; reaching consensus on areas of development and co-operation; consolidating and expanding business networks, injecting new impetus to open up new horizons and opportunities; enhancing a shared strong will to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative; and reaffirming the three countries' continuous support for Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
      
     Mr Lee and the delegation will return to Hong Kong tonight.
      

Ends/Friday, August 2, 2024
Issued at HKT 20:04

NNNN