2nd June 2026 – (Astana) Chief Executive John Lee announced in Astana that Hong Kong and Kazakhstan will conclude 43 memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements spanning trade, investment, finance, technology, education, aviation and green finance. The package includes plans for a Hong Kong carrier to launch direct services to Almaty in the first quarter of next year.
Lee — accompanied by Deputy Secretary for Justice Dr Cheung Kwok‑kwan, Hong Kong Trade Development Council chair Professor Frederick Ma, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing chief executive Bonnie Chan and Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings chair Li Xiaojun — said the Central Asia mission targets three goals: opening new markets and laying long‑term commercial foundations, strengthening government‑to‑government ties, and building hub‑to‑hub collaboration.
Kazakhstan agreed to fast‑track talks on a comprehensive double taxation avoidance agreement with Hong Kong and to begin negotiations on an investment promotion and protection agreement as soon as possible. Among commercial outcomes, a Hong Kong investor and sovereign wealth fund Samruk‑Kazyna will jointly commit US$100 million to establish a regional blood‑purification product manufacturing centre in Kazakhstan. HKEX and the Astana International Financial Centre will explore cross‑border listings and a green‑finance ecosystem, while Cyberport, Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong‑Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park will deepen links with Astana Hub.
The delegation met President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, senior ministers and Samruk‑Kazyna’s chief executive, and visited the AIFC as well as Astana Hub and its International Artificial Intelligence Centre. Lee underscored Kazakhstan’s strategic role in the Belt and Road and its position as Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia.
On higher education, Lee said the Education University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University will sign cooperation memoranda with Nazarbayev University to expand research and academic exchanges. He noted growing Hong Kong–Kazakhstan university collaboration and a cohort of over 500 Kazakh students in Hong Kong. The delegation will visit the National Museum of Kazakhstan and Nazarbayev University on Wednesday before proceeding to Uzbekistan.