Chief Executive John Lee today met visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural & Regional Development of Malaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Mr Lee pointed out that Hong Kong-Malaysia bilateral trade in goods reached US$23.9 billion last year, adding that Malaysia is Hong Kong’s ninth-largest trading partner and the third largest among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He also thanked Malaysia for its ongoing support for Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Apart from highlighting that the Top Talent Pass Scheme welcomes graduates of the world’s top 100 universities, including Universiti Malaya, to come to Hong Kong for development, Mr Lee said that the strategy of attracting and retaining talent is one of the priorities of the current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

He emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work closely with Malaysia to promote talent exchanges in areas such as healthcare and vocational training.

Furthermore, with an increase in the Belt & Road Scholarship quota starting next academic year, more students from Malaysia are welcome to study in the city to deepen youth exchanges, he added.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations, the Chief Executive said that Hong Kong will keep fostering exchanges and collaboration with Malaysia in trade and commerce, investment, innovation and technology as well as culture and tourism, so as to contribute to a greater bilateral relationship between the country and Malaysia.