China – Hong Kong – Meeting between Jean-Yves Le Drian and Chief Executive Carrie Lam (Paris, 19 June 2018)

They discussed every aspect of the relationship between France and Hong Kong and spoke of stepping up cooperation in such priority economic sectors as aviation, innovation, finance, health care and aging, sustainable cities, and robotics. They also reiterated both parties’ wish to expand scientific and academic exchanges and facilitate the mobility of young people, as well as cultural cooperation, especially cultural engineering and cultural and creative industries.

Together with Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Ms. Lam also attended today’s ceremony at Airbus Helicopters in Marignane marking the delivery of H175 helicopters to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has one of the largest French communities in Asia, with more than 14,000 citizens registered at the Consulate. French exports to Hong Kong have nearly doubled over the past 10 years, and since 2017, Hong Kong accounts for France’s leading trade surplus, ahead of the United Kingdom (€5.2 billion in 2017). With direct foreign investments amounting to €13.2 billion in 2016, France is the eighth-largest foreign investor and second-largest European investor in Hong Kong. More than 800 French companies (including 343 branch offices and 81 regional headquarters) are located there.

Hong Kong is the second-largest Asian investor in France, with direct foreign investments of €5.4 billion in 2017; 70 Hong Kong companies employ 7,000 people in France. The 25th edition of the French May festival drew some 1.2 million viewers to more than 150 events.