Lee finds HK connection on Hanoi trip

Wallis Wang

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine at a Hanoi restaurant owned by a Hongkonger yesterday morning before meeting Vietnamese President To Lam at the Presidential Palace.

Lee headed to Ho Chi Minh City last night, the last stop of his six-day trip to three Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, before returning to Hong Kong tonight.

During the meeting, Lee thanked the Vietnamese government for attaching great importance to his visit and expressed his condolences on the passing of Vietnam's Communist Party chief and paramount leader Nguyen Phu Trong.

To expressed his gratitude toward China and Hong Kong for caring about the development of Vietnam, while adding that his country is supportive of the one country, two systems principle, and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

He added that Lee's visit to Vietnam was an important milestone in their bilateral relations and would bring the cooperation between the two to a new phase.

Lee also met with deputy prime minister Tran Luu Quang to witness the signing of eight memorandums of understanding covering trading, investment and aviation development.

While Vietnam's economy continues to develop at a rapid pace, Hong Kong is an ideal place for companies to go public and can become a business partner for Vietnamese enterprises to explore overseas markets, Lee said, adding there are more than 86 million potential consumers in the Greater Bay Area.

"Vietnam developed its economy successfully over the past year. Hong Kong is now boosting its economy at full speed, and our delegation has high expectations for this visit," Lee added.

He had breakfast at a restaurant operated by a Hongkonger and his Vietnamese wife and learned about Hong Kong people's lives in the country.

"With the benefits brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, I encouraged them to continue the business and hope they will open more branches in Hong Kong and other ASEAN countries," Lee added.

He also met with the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo and thanked him for helping arrange the trip.