How can Hong Kong, Central Asia build momentum on growing ties and go beyond MOUs?

About three months after Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited Central Asia, momentum is building for closer economic ties between the city and the region, with potential cooperation extending beyond finance to tourism, professional services, mining, agriculture and digital infrastructure.

Government officials and senior figures from the industrial, investment and financial sectors discussed the prospects at the South China Morning Post’s inaugural China Conference: Central Asia 2026, held in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on Monday.

Business leaders said the real test over the next 12 to 24 months would be whether the agreements and enthusiasm generated by Lee’s visit would translate into projects and lasting commercial relationships.

Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Hong Kong’s commissioner for Belt and Road, said interest had increased on both sides since Lee’s visit in June.

“We are getting more and more inquiries, not just from Kazakh companies or Kazakh organisations looking to use Hong Kong as a hub for finance and trade,” Ho said.

“We’ve also seen Hong Kong and Chinese mainland companies wanting to use Hong Kong as a hub to access Kazakhstan and the Central Asian market.”