23-5-2024 (HONG KONG) The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mr. John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on May 23. The meeting, also attended by officials from both sides, aimed to further strengthen the longstanding ties between Hong Kong and Malaysia.
During the discussions, Mr. Lee welcomed Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s visit to Hong Kong, highlighting the close trade relationship between the two regions. He noted that bilateral trade in goods reached US$23.9 billion last year, with Malaysia being Hong Kong’s ninth-largest trading partner and the third-largest among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Mr. Lee expressed his gratitude to Malaysia for its continued support for Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), emphasizing Hong Kong’s commitment to making greater contributions to regional cooperation.
Recognizing the importance of talent attraction and retention, Mr. Lee emphasized that this is one of the priorities of the current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The Top Talent Pass Scheme welcomes graduates from the world’s top 100 universities, including Universiti Malaya, to come to Hong Kong for professional development.
The HKSAR Government is committed to working closely with Malaysia to promote talent exchanges in various sectors, including healthcare and vocational training. Additionally, Mr. Lee stated that Hong Kong is determined to develop into an international hub for post-secondary education, and with the upcoming increase in the quota of the Belt and Road Scholarship starting from the next academic year, more students from Malaysia are welcome to study in Hong Kong, deepening exchanges among young people between the two regions.
Noting that 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, Mr. Lee emphasized Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering exchanges and collaboration with Malaysia in areas such as trade and commerce, investment, innovation and technology, as well as culture and tourism. These efforts aim to further consolidate the bilateral relationship between China and Malaysia.
