The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong welcomes the RCEP's commencement of Hong Kong's accession procedure. Jonathan Choi: Joining the RCEP can drive mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes for the region.

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong welcomes the commencement of the accession procedure for economies including Hong Kong through the establishment of an accession working group under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Jonathan Choi, Standing Committee Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the CGCC, believes that Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP will not only benefit its own economic development but also drive mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes for the region. The working group's imminent launch of Hong Kong's accession procedure marks substantive progress in Hong Kong's bid to join the world's largest free trade agreement. The newly published first five-year plan for Hong Kong provides a clear action blueprint and institutional safeguards for aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and deepening participation in RCEP market development. As an international financial center, Hong Kong can provide efficient and flexible financing channels for enterprises in the region and serve as a promoter of RMB settlement and green finance cooperation; Hong Kong's advantages in professional services and legal arbitration are internationally recognized, enabling it to assist enterprises in expanding into RCEP markets and serve as a springboard into the Greater Bay Area and the mainland market in the field of innovation and technology, playing the role of a super partner under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems." The CGCC has spared no effort in promoting Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP, including organizing seminars and symposiums, and organizing delegations to visit multiple RCEP member states to actively exchange views on the benefits of Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP. In 2024, the Chamber held the CGCC World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit, inviting Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn as keynote speakers, bringing together political and business leaders and corporate elites from home and abroad to jointly explore the vast opportunities in the RCEP market and the functions Hong Kong can play upon joining the RCEP. Chairman Jonathan Choi had earlier successfully promoted Hong Kong's accession to the ASEAN Free Trade Area, laying an important foundation for Hong Kong's participation in the RCEP. The CGCC hopes that Hong Kong can complete the accession procedure as soon as possible and formally become an RCEP member. The Chamber will continue to maintain close contact with the SAR government and the industrial and commercial sectors, build consensus within the industry, and play its chamber role in promoting regional economic integration.