The Hong Kong SAR Government's Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, signed on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region an Air Services Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong on December 22.

Representing the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the signing ceremony was Serik Akhmetov, Minister of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is strategically located between Asia and Europe. It is Hong Kong's first aviation partner in the Central Asia region.

"The Air Services Agreement signed today provides a legal framework for the establishment of air links between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. It will help to strengthen the cultural, trade and economic ties between our two governments and people," Mr Ip said at the signing ceremony.

"To enhance Hong Kong's position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalisation policy," Mr Ip added.

The Air Services Agreement with Kazakhstan is Hong Kong's 58th Air Services Agreement with foreign aviation partners.

Hong Kong has signed Air Services Agreements with Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA and Vietnam.