Hong Kong, Laos sign 12 MOUs to further boost ties
Hong Kong and Laos signed 12 MOUs to boost cooperation during Chief Executive John Lee's visit to the Asean member state. Speaking in a media briefing in the capital Vientiane on Monday evening as he wrapped his visit to Laos, he said there's room for the two sides to further enhance ties. "Our two-day visit in Laos is fruitful. We have a total of 12 MOUs being exchanged, from trade and economic partnership, investment promotion, Customs collaboration, education exchange, logistics cooperation, to financial services and air services development. "Looking ahead, I believe Hong Kong and Laos will have huge potentials and opportunities for cooperation, and there's ample room to grow in terms of trade and people-to-people exchange." Lee added that Hong Kong is an ideal platform for Laotian companies to tap into the Greater Bay Area market. "I believe that more cooperation between both the business sector between the two places and people-to-people exchange will help produce good benefits to the two peoples," he said. The CE also thanked Laos for supporting Hong Kong's bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). During the visit, he met with the leaders of Laos and visited places such as Vientiane Secondary School where students have been learning Chinese. In a speech at the school, he said Polytechnic University has signed an MOU with the school, offering scholarships to high-achieving students so that they can study at the university.  The CE also pointed out Hong Kong recently relaxed the visa policy for Laotian talent to work or study in Hong Kong. Lee will head to Cambodia on Tuesday on the next leg of his three-nation visit which also includes Vietnam.