Hong Kong’s John Lee calls for closer ties with Malaysia at celebration of 10 years of country’s chamber of commerce
- Lee says at reception to mark anniversary of country’s chamber of commerce in Hong Kong there is ‘much to look forward to in the coming years’
- Malaysian ambassador to China adds he hopes to see ties with Hong Kong ‘endure and grow’
John Lee Ka-chiu, speaking at a reception organised by the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce to mark its 10th anniversary, said the “much valued cooperation can be counted in more than trade numbers”.
“And there is much to look forward to in the coming years,” he added. “We have, for example, been contributing to the Economic and Technical Cooperation Work Programme under the free-trade agreement between Asean and Hong Kong.”
The event was attended by hundreds of guests, including more than 30 international trade associations and diplomats.
Malaysia is part of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which was the city’s second-largest trading partner in 2022.
Trade between Hong Kong and Asean countries amounted to a record high of HK$1.3 trillion (US$166 billion) that year, 13.7 per cent of the city’s global merchandise trade.
The Malaysian ambassador to China, Norman Bin Muhamad, who attended the reception, said he hoped his country’s relations with the city would deepen in the future.
