Hong Kong (FN), Sep. 22 – Recently, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said at the Hong Kong-ASEAN Forum that Hong Kong hopes to open an economic and trade office in Kuala Lumpur. Against the backdrop of global economic integration, by joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), trade cooperation with ASEAN countries will become closer.

Since 2024, the main driving force of Hong Kong's economy has come from the shift from consumption to net exports, which also shows that Hong Kong's economic environment is gradually improving, which is more conducive to the growth of foreign investment. Coupled with the overall stability of the ASEAN economy, the economic growth of many countries has been outstanding. These factors have provided a good external environment for Hong Kong's investment in ASEAN, which will inevitably become a fertile ground for the development of Hong Kong enterprises.
 
The economic and trade exchanges between Hong Kong and ASEAN have a long history and a solid foundation for cooperation. Hong Kong is an important trading partner of ASEAN, and it is also a trade service platform and overseas listing location favored by ASEAN enterprises. So far, Hong Kong has opened three economic and trade offices in Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta, and the future one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be the fourth.

As a strategic role in the country's external economic development, Hong Kong is bound to play a pivotal role in assisting the country's better development in opening up to the outside world. Nowadays, ASEAN has already occupied an important position in Hong Kong's foreign trade.

Although many emerging market economies in ASEAN are not too large, most of them have rich natural resources, and local governments also actively encourage foreign investment in industries such as new energy, digital finance and green economy. These require support from international funds, business management, professional services, etc. Hong Kong, as an international financial center, can use its financial and professional service advantages. At the same time, Hong Kong can serve as a platform to unite enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to find business opportunities in ASEAN countries when participating in the joint construction of the "one Belt and one Road" market.

Hong Kong's investment activities in ASEAN cover many fields, not only in the financial industry, but also in manufacturing, wholesale and retail industries, as well as industries related to energy transformation and digital economy.

Looking to the future, investment cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN will continue to deepen. The two sides will also deepen cooperation in common prosperity and regional economic integration, and contribute to building a more stable and inclusive economic community.
=FRESH NEWS