Vanuatu is seeking to elevate its relationship with Hong Kong into a long-term, institutional partnership, following a high-level visit by Prime Minister Jotham Napat Nauka and a senior government delegation.
During the visit, the prime minister convened a conference titled Future and Development of Vanuatu–Hong Kong Relationship for 2026 and Beyond, at which he outlined Vanuatu’s vision for the next phase of engagement with Hong Kong. The visit marked what Vanuatu described as a transition into a new stage of relations characterised by stronger political trust, deeper institutional engagement, enhanced financial cooperation and broader connectivity with capital markets.
The prime minister held meetings with leaders and senior officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, to discuss issues of mutual interest. The discussions took place against the backdrop of continued growth in bilateral trade and expanding prospects for cooperation between the two economies.
Both sides acknowledged that ongoing adjustments in the international environment and deepening regional cooperation have created significant strategic opportunities for closer Vanuatu–Hong Kong relations. There was agreement on the need to raise the level of cooperation, broaden its scope and improve cooperation mechanisms, moving beyond project-based collaboration towards more structured, long-term and institutional arrangements.
Key areas identified for closer coordination included regional affairs, development agendas, participation in international organisations, economic governance, financial regulation and institutional development. Both sides supported the establishment of more stable and regularised frameworks to strengthen communication, coordination and policy dialogue.
Financial cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The two sides agreed to advance principles of financial parity and mutual recognition of relevant licences, with the aim of developing a medium- to long-term framework covering both traditional financial services and emerging areas such as digital finance. They also expressed support for stronger alignment within regional financial systems and for enhanced intergovernmental communication to provide a more transparent and predictable environment for cross-border business and investment.
Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre, with established governance frameworks, regulatory experience and capital market expertise aligned with international standards, was highlighted as a key advantage. Vanuatu, in turn, presented itself as a strategically located South Pacific island nation with institutional flexibility and strong regional connectivity potential.
Discussions also covered trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides reviewed opportunities to improve trade and investment facilitation, industrial cooperation, tourism development, business exchanges and talent development, with the aim of increasing both the scale and quality of bilateral economic engagement.
There was strong support for Hong Kong and international enterprises to use Hong Kong as a platform to engage with Vanuatu in priority sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, the digital economy, financial services, shipping and logistics, the marine economy, modern agriculture and sustainable tourism.
Looking ahead, both sides agreed on the importance of continued consultations and implementation efforts. The focus will be on progressing from traditional project-based cooperation towards collaboration across industrial chains, capital alignment and institutional co-development. Measures to improve mobility for business, investment and professional services personnel, as well as enhanced exchanges among universities, research institutions and professional organisations, were also identified as priorities to strengthen the social and economic foundations of the relationship.
