Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated that Hong Kong is positioned to connect ASEAN with the Greater Bay Area. He made these remarks at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026, according to the South China Morning Post. Additionally, the Standard reported that Lee stated Hong Kong is accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis into an international hub for innovation and technology, as well as post-secondary education.

Bilateral trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN reached US$214 billion in the year prior to the GBA-Asean Summit 2026, representing a 29 percent increase from the previous year, according to The Standard. In 2022, bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and ASEAN reached HK$1,294 billion ($165.7 billion), according to China Daily HK. ASEAN has been Hong Kong’s second-largest merchandise trading partner for 16 consecutive years.

Lee’s upcoming visit to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam marks his third visit to Southeast Asia since taking office, according to China Daily HK. This follows the Greater Bay Area Conference 2023, which was co-hosted by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition. The conference, themed 'When GBA Meets ASEAN - One Heart and One Mind', brought more than 400 distinguished guests, including government officials, industry leaders, and academics, according to PR Newswire.

The Greater Bay Area Conference 2023 comprised three panel discussions focusing on green finance, the integration of green technology in daily life, and the preservation of art and culture for sustainable tourism. Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, gave a keynote address at the event.