Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee highlighted growing education ties between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan during a visit to Nazarbayev University on June 3, as both sides moved to deepen international academic collaboration.

Lee met with university president Professor Waqar Ahmad and attended the signing of memoranda of understanding between Nazarbayev University and two Hong Kong institutions – the Education University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The agreements are expected to strengthen academic exchanges, research partnerships and talent development.

The visit builds on an existing collaboration between Nazarbayev University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, launched last year through a business programme focused on Eurasia.

Lee said Hong Kong is expanding its role as an international higher education hub and welcomed more students from Kazakhstan to study in the city. Around 500 Kazakhstani students are currently enrolled in Hong Kong, making them one of the largest student groups from countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative.