This was agreed at a trilateral meeting in Urumqi on December 5 by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin, Secretary of the XUAR Party Committee Ma Sinjui and Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR (PRC) Algernon Yau. For the first time, prospects for the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan, XUAR and Hong Kong were discussed at a high level.
The idea of establishing cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong with the participation of the XUAR was proposed to Serik Zhumangarin at a bilateral meeting in June this year by the secretary of the party committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Ma Xingjui. The result of the adoption of the idea was a trilateral meeting in Urumqi. As Ma Xingjui noted at the meeting on December 5, XUAR is ready to become a bridge connecting Kazakhstan with two regions of the People's Republic of China, important nodes in the implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
"Kazakhstan is an important transport hub connecting Europe and Asia, it is the largest economy in Central Asia. Hong Kong has great advantages and support from mainland China, is an important trade and logistics center, and borders many countries. We can create a mechanism of interaction, a point of strategic and practical cooperation, based on existing cooperation platforms. All this will allow us to increase investments, cooperate in the financial sector, energy, agriculture, improve logistics efficiency, strengthen humanitarian and cultural cooperation in education, healthcare, tourism, scientific research, and academic exchanges," Ma Xingjui said.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin noted that the trilateral meeting opens up unique prospects for interaction and interregional industrial cooperation.
"China is one of the largest investors in the economy of Kazakhstan: with the participation of Chinese capital, about 145 investment projects worth more than $38 billion are being implemented in various industries. There are about 5,000 joint ventures operating in Kazakhstan. We propose to create a Kazakhstan–XUAR–Hong Kong Cooperation Council, which would work out specific proposals to enhance investment and trade and economic cooperation. I propose to organize the first meeting of the Council in Kazakhstan next year," Serik Zhumangarin stressed.
Measures to strengthen mutual trade, transport and logistics cooperation, finance, new technologies, tourism, science and education are identified as promising areas of cooperation.
Also, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan proposed to create joint production facilities in Kazakhstan with the participation of Hong Kong capital, especially in the field of deep processing of the agricultural sector.
"We are the largest exporters of grain and oilseed products in the region and the world, and the volume of exports of livestock products is growing. We invite Hong Kong and XUAR enterprises to implement joint projects in Kazakhstan for the deep processing of Kazakhstani agricultural raw materials and the production of food products that could be exported to Hong Kong and the Greater Gulf region. For systematic financing of joint projects in Kazakhstan, XUAR and Hong Kong, we propose to establish a Joint Investment Fund with headquarters in Urumqi or Hong Kong," Serik Zhumangarin said.
A proposal was made to create a joint research center in Kazakhstan for the development of sustainable plant varieties and technologies to increase yields. There is a willingness on the part of Kazakhstani companies to supply agricultural environmentally friendly products to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, the Great Gulf, and Southeast China.
Special attention was paid to the development of joint tourism. Ma Xingjui suggested that the three sides develop joint tourist routes that would allow tourists from Hong Kong to visit Urumqi at the same time and visit Kazakhstan. To do this, it is proposed to form regular aviation and land transport routes "Kazakhstan-XUAR-Hong Kong".
For his part, Algernon Yau noted that Hong Kong ranks 3rd in the world among financial centers. As an aviation hub, it connects more than 200 locations around the world. There are plans to develop high-tech in the north of Hong Kong.
"We welcome Kazakhstani enterprises that register in Hong Kong. They have the same access to the markets of the Great Gulf as Hong Kong companies. Hong Kong has great ties with the ASEAN countries, and if Kazakhstani enterprises are interested in cooperating with them, they can do so through Hong Kong," he said.
Algernon Yau expressed hope for the early conclusion of an Agreement with Kazakhstan on the promotion and mutual protection of investments. Serik Zhumangarin informed that the Government of Kazakhstan is actively working on this document.
The Kazakh side also expressed interest in the development of e-commerce and the experience of Hong Kong as one of the largest e-commerce markets in Asia.
"We are interested in the joint implementation of the Digital Silk Road initiative. We have a positive experience of cooperation in creating national pavilions on China's electronic trading platforms, and we are interested in seeing more of them. Kazakhstan is also very interested in the experience of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. We would like to invite representatives of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to Kazakhstan to share their experience," Serik Zhumagarin summed up.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/moa/press/news/details/898358