Lee and his delegation of officials and more than 30 industry leaders from Hong Kong, started the visit in Abu Dhabi yesterday after a two-day trip in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

He spoke yesterday in the Abu Dhabi-Hong Kong Business Forum and networking luncheon where he greeted participants by saying "Hello from Hong Kong!" - a large-scale tourism campaign launched by the government last Thursday.

"We are here to tell you that Hong Kong is back on the center stage again, back in active business, for creating opportunities for Abu Dhabi for the United Arab Emirates, for each and everyone of you," Lee said.

"No quarantine, no isolation, no restriction whatsoever, we are on a clear path of recovery after three years of Covid-19 attacks, and recovery means opportunities, abundant opportunities for development and for prosperity," he added.

Lee said Hong Kong and the UAE are "strong and longstanding business partners" and the SAR can join the UAE in supporting its 'Belt and Road' ventures.

He said Hong Kong is a one-stop Belt and Road center for professional services, and he is also looking forward to the day the two places can have a wide-ranging cultural exchange, while the two governments have also agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding in green and sustainable finance.

The Federation of Hong Kong Industries, which is in Lee's delegation, signed a MOU with Abu Dhabi Chamber on promoting a closer economic partnership.

Before he left Saudi Arabia on Monday, Lee met with the secretary-general of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, to understand more about the large-scale infrastructure projects implemented under the Belt and Road Initiative in Saudi Arabia.

Lee also attended the LEAP 2023 technology conference regarding the latest developments of enterprises from various countries and regions in such areas as innovation and technology (I&T) and artificial intelligence.

Lee also met the president and chief executive of state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, Amin H Nasser, during the conference on Monday, and touted Hong Kong's important role as one of the world's leading international financial centers and its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle and the GBA development.

On Monday afternoon, Lee also met with Saudi Arabia's minister of communications and information technology Abdullah Alswaha, to exchange views on fostering cooperation on I&T between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

Lee also met with Saudi Arabia's minister of investment Khalid Al-Falih again.