On June 3, Nazarbayev University hosted a high-level delegation from Hong Kong, comprising around 100 representatives of leading companies and media organizations. The visit took place as part of the first official trip to Kazakhstan by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency John Lee.
The delegation was welcomed by NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad, who introduced the guests to the university’s development, key achievements, and strategic priorities. He also emphasized that the university has set an ambitious goal of entering the world’s top 200 universities within the next four years.
“One of the most inspiring examples for us is the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Although it is only 35 years old, it is already regarded as a mature and highly reputable institution, successfully competing with universities that have centuries of history. Such examples motivate us to move forward,” Professor Ahmad added.
In turn, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, described NU as a leading hub of education and innovation in the heart of Eurasia.
“Nazarbayev University has repeatedly been part of landmark events and has entered history for several reasons. One of them was the 2013 visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, when the concept of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt was first publicly proposed within these very walls. That moment became the starting point of the Belt and Road Initiative—a strategy aimed at strengthening connectivity, shared development, and common prosperity,” he said.
Hong Kong is the only city in the world that is home to five universities ranked among the global top 100. According to John Lee, more than 6,000 students from Belt and Road countries are currently studying in programs funded by the Hong Kong University Grants Committee. Around 500 of them are from Kazakhstan, making Kazakhstani youth one of the largest student groups within this academic community.
“Every student studying abroad becomes an ambassador of their country and a bridge between cultures. The Kazakhstani community in Hong Kong continues to grow. This will be further supported by the Memoranda of Understanding signed today with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Education University of Hong Kong, under which cooperation is planned in student mobility and joint research. I would also like to note that last year NU and HKUST launched a joint Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program in Eurasian Business. All these initiatives demonstrate the high level of higher education cooperation between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan,” he said.
At the end of his remarks, John Lee added that cultural dialogue between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong is also developing, including through culinary traditions. On the eve of the visit, he attended a traditional Kazakh dinner featuring beshbarmak and baursaks, and also noted the opening of the first Central Asian cuisine restaurant in Hong Kong.
