Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, during a meeting with visiting Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib, expressed his encouragement for Belgian innovation and technology enterprises to establish a presence in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao Hong Kong Park.
According to the Hong Kong Government Information Bulletin, John Lee met with Lahbib on the 27th to exchange views on deepening cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Belgium.
John Lee welcomed the delegation led by Lahbib and noted that Belgium is one of Hong Kong's major trading partners within the European Union. Many Belgian companies have set up business bases in Hong Kong. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Belgian Consulate General in Hong Kong, reflecting the frequent exchanges and collaborations between the two places.
He stated that as an international trade center, Hong Kong consistently ranks first worldwide among the freest economies and is the world’s fifth-largest goods trading economy. He is confident that both sides will further strengthen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, investment, innovation and technology, and cultural exchanges, thereby creating broader space for collaboration.
John Lee emphasized that Hong Kong firmly supports and upholds free trade and multilateralism, continually deepens international engagement and cooperation, and expands its global trade network. The Hong Kong government has established a dedicated team to assist mainland enterprises in going global, as well as a "One-Stop Economic and Trade Platform" to help quality enterprises "go out" and bring in international capital.
He welcomed overseas enterprises, including those from Belgium, to leverage Hong Kong's advantages—such as its professional high value-added services, highly market-oriented business environment, and simple, low tax system—to use Hong Kong as a platform for expanding into the mainland Chinese and Asian markets, jointly promoting global economic development.
John Lee stated that the Northern Metropolis is Hong Kong’s new engine for future economic development. China's "15th Five-Year Plan" (2026-2030) explicitly supports the acceleration of the development of the Northern Metropolis. Hong Kong is building itself into an international innovation and technology hub, accelerating the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone's Hong Kong Park, and promoting the in-depth integration of technological and industrial innovation to attract high-end enterprises from home and abroad to develop in Hong Kong.
To this end, he encourages Belgian innovation and technology enterprises to settle in the Northern Metropolis and Hetao Hong Kong Park, to introduce cutting-edge technologies, talent, and industrial chain resources. By combining Hong Kong’s strong research capabilities and vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem, together they can seize development opportunities in the new wave of technological revolution.