Hong Kong – CE attends APEC meetings in Thailand (with photos/videos)
CE attends APEC meetings in Thailand (with photos/videos)
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The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand today (November 18) and exchanged views with the leaders of other economies on how to address barriers to trade and investment, promote resilient supply chains and closer people-to-people connectivity, as well as deepen economic and technical co-operation to enhance inclusive and sustainable growth.
The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Retreat this year were held in two sessions. Mr Lee in the first session of the meeting today said that Hong Kong has formulated robust policy measures to respond to sustainability challenges. These included striving to slash Hong Kong’s total carbon emissions by half of the 2005 level before 2035 with a pledge of carbon neutrality before 2050, as well as leveraging Hong Kong’s international connectivity to facilitate matching between international capital and quality green projects, in particular those included under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Then, Mr Lee attended the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue with Guests. In his remarks, Mr Lee said that he was encouraged that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members welcomed Hong Kong’s accession request to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Hong Kong looked forward to contributing its unique strengths in trade and investment to strengthen RCEP’s leadership role as the world’s largest free trade agreement.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee attended the APEC Leaders’ Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council. Three Hong Kong, China’s representatives, namely Ms Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group; Mr Nicholas Ho, Chairman of hpa (Ho & Partners Architects Engineers and Development Consultants Limited); and Ms Mary Huen, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, and Cluster Chief Executive Officer (Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau) of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, also attended the session. After that, Mr Lee attended a breakout session with the Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Wentao; the President of the Republic of Chile, Mr Gabriel Boric Font; the Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, Mr Mohd Zuki Ali; the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrei Belousov; the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong; and the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
Mr Lee also had a bilateral meeting with the President of Indonesia, Mr Joko Widodo, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. He sent his congratulations to Indonesia on successfully hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and looked forward to many more exchanges and deeper co-operation with Indonesia.
Mr Lee also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Noting that Singapore is an important trading partner of Hong Kong, he welcomed Singaporean businesses to partner with Hong Kong to tap into the vast opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area and Belt and Road Initiative.
In the evening, Mr Lee attended the Royal Audience and was received by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana.
Mr Lee will attend the second session of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Retreat tomorrow (November 19) and have dinner with Hong Kong’s business delegation and Thailand business leaders in the evening.
This week the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, successfully concluded a trip to Washington, D.C., where she attended the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund and the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Banks Governors’ Meetings, as well as meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee. October 15, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada This week the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, successfully concluded a trip to Washington, D.C., where she attended the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Deputy Prime Minister also attended the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Banks Governors’ Meetings. In addition, the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Mona Fortier, virtually attended, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting. Today, the Minister of International Development, the Honourable Karina Gould, virtually attended, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, the meeting of the IMF-World Bank Development Committee, where the focus was on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on low-income countries and multilateral efforts to promote their resilient recovery. The meetings provided opportunities for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss issues on a range of fronts, including: international trade, addressing the needs of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries; the economic impacts of the pandemic on women and the need for affordable and accessible early learning and child care; and future pandemic prevention and preparedness. This week has also been an important moment to discuss climate action and how we can work with our partners to do even more. Canada has a world-leading price on pollution – and worked to actively explore avenues to collaborate on carbon pricing, border carbon adjustments, and other tools. The meetings also allowed Canada to engage with international partners on bringing last week’s landmark two-pillar plan on international tax reform into effect. This historic agreement will end the global race to the bottom in corporate taxation, and put Canadian workers and businesses on a level playing field in the global economy by ensuring that all corporations, including the world’s largest, pay their fair share. The Deputy Prime Minister held several bilateral meetings with her counterparts, including: US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen; Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance, Olaf Scholz; UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak; France’s Minister of Finance and the Economy, Bruno Le Maire; Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Daniele Franco; Republic of Korea Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Hong Nam-ki; and Mexico Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Rogelio Ramírez de la O. “At these important meetings with our international partners, Canada was able to discuss issues of global concern including: ending the pandemic, building a fair and robust recovery, climate change, growing inequality, sustainable economic development, tax fairness, and the economic outlook in the years ahead. It is essential that we work together to overcome shared challenges and build a greener future with prosperity and opportunity for all.” The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance This week, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, will attend the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Washington, D.C. October 11, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada This week, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, will attend the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Washington, D.C. The Deputy Prime Minister will also attend G7 and G20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Banks Governors’ Meetings, as well as meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee. The Deputy Prime Minister will be joined by the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem. The Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Mona Fortier, will also virtually attend, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting. The Minister of International Development, the Honourable Karina Gould, will also virtually participate in the IMF-World Bank Development Committee meeting on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Ministers and governors will discuss coordinated actions to support a strong and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 recession; international tax fairness in an era of digitalized and globalized commerce; pressing global challenges such as climate change; and addressing the economic impacts of the COVID-19 recession on women, including the need for accessible and affordable childcare. An itinerary of events will be released in advance of the meetings. “This week’s meetings are an important opportunity for Canada to help shape a green, resilient, and inclusive economic recovery. Working closely with our international partners is especially crucial in supporting people who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, in ensuring tax fairness and ending the race to the bottom, and in fostering green growth. Our collective action will build stronger and more resilient economies and societies for everyone.” – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceCanada – Deputy Prime Minister concludes successful G7 and G20 Finance Ministers’ Meetings and Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank
Canada – Deputy Prime Minister to attend G7 and G20 Finance Ministers’ Meetings and Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank
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