Key facts
- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is leading a 70-member delegation to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
- The visit aims to position Hong Kong as a financial and business gateway to China and Southeast Asia.
- Cathay Pacific will restart flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in Q1 2027.
- Hong Kong's merchandise trade with Central Asia was over $320 million in 2025, up 27% since 2020.
- Two Hong Kong universities signed partnership agreements with Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee is leading a 70-member delegation, including 40 business leaders, on a tour of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The visit aims to position Hong Kong as a financial and business gateway connecting Central Asian nations to China and Southeast Asia, aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative. Lee seeks to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, financial services, IT, culture, and tourism, emphasizing Hong Kong's role as a 'super-connector'. Cathay Pacific announced plans to restart direct flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of 2027, operating three times per week. Hong Kong's merchandise trade with Central Asia reached over $320 million in 2025, marking a 27% increase since 2020. The city is also developing a central clearing system for gold trading. Jiaxin International Resources Investment, a Hong Kong-incorporated company with a tungsten mining project in Kazakhstan, saw its shares surge significantly after its dual listing. Additionally, two Hong Kong universities have signed partnership agreements with Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, further deepening academic and people-to-people ties.