Xu Zhengyu visited the central bank and stock exchange of Uzbekistan to explore and expand opportunities for financial cooperation between the two sides.

On May 6th, Tashkent Time, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, Christopher Hui Ching-yu, visited the Central Bank and Securities Exchange in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, actively exploring opportunities to expand financial cooperation between the two sides. Uzbekistan is an important country for gold production and trade. During the meeting with Kamol Alimukhamedov, Deputy Director of the International Reserves Management Department of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, Hui introduced Hong Kong's active efforts to build a gold trading market that is internationally integrated, including promoting the Hong Kong Gold Clearing System and preparing for trial operation within this year. Furthermore, Hong Kong has set clear development goals to expand gold storage capacity to over 2,000 tons within three years, with the Airport Authority of Hong Kong launching a project to upgrade airport storage facilities to a capacity of a thousand tons. Hui expressed hope that the two regions could deepen their Belt and Road initiatives through gold cooperation, further enhancing connections between countries along the ancient Silk Road and other international market participants, promoting trade and economic integration. On the same day, Hui also visited the Tashkent Stock Exchange and met with its CEO, Fayzulla Tashov. He pointed out that Hong Kong, as an international financial center, has actively strengthened its ties with overseas markets in recent years, and the list of stock exchanges recognized by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange now covers 20 overseas exchanges. As Uzbekistan encourages international capital investment in local businesses, Hui welcomed the use of Hong Kong's advantages as a major fundraising platform for equity and bond financing, such as issuing Renminbi bonds to support Renminbi trade settlements and transactions, further promoting economic and trade exchanges between Uzbekistan and mainland China. During his brief stay in Tashkent, Hui also met with Wang Jiwei, Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, and thanked the central government for its continued care and support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He mentioned that during the past few days attending the Asian Development Bank's annual meeting, he had engaged in productive discussions with members on regional development issues, common challenges, and strategies. He also promoted Hong Kong as the only international city that combines the advantages of China and the world, serving as a crucial gateway connecting mainland China with global markets. Hong Kong will continue to explore new growth opportunities, including developing the gold and commodity markets, to consolidate its position as an international financial center and contribute to the country's goal of becoming a leading financial power. In the Central Asian region, a key segment of the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong will continue deepening financial cooperation in this area.