Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee met with Indonesia President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Tuesday as part of a week-long goodwill trip to three Asean members to help Hong Kong businesses capture new opportunities.
During the meeting, both leaders focused on deepening economic ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia.
President Widodo emphasized the importance of protecting Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong, while Chief Executive Lee highlighted the strong trade and investment ties between the two cities.
Indonesia is one of Hong Kong's major trading partners in Asean, with two-way trade amounting to HK$104 billion in 2022.
The city is also the largest source of foreign direct investment in Indonesia, with a total investment of HK$21.8 billion in 2021.
Chief Executive Lee's goodwill trip to Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines is aimed at strengthening Hong Kong's ties with Asean countries and exploring new business opportunities for the city's companies.
On Wednesday, Chief Executive Lee will meet with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two cities.
He will then travel to the Philippines for a series of meetings with government officials and business leaders.
The goodwill trip comes as Hong Kong faces a challenging economic environment due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing protests.
By strengthening ties with Asean countries, Hong Kong is looking to diversify its economic relationships and explore new opportunities for growth.
Overall, the meeting between Chief Executive Lee and President Widodo highlights the importance of economic ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia and the potential for further cooperation in the future.