Chief Executive John Lee on Monday called on global firms to pursue their business expansion in collaboration with the SAR at a time of spiralling global geopolitical and trade tensions.

He made the remarks at the opening of the World Internet Conference Asia Pacific Summit 2025 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, where some 1,000 political and business elites as well as academics from over 30 countries and regions gathered to discuss the latest technological advancements in the internet industry.

The opening of the two-day summit also marks the event's debut in the SAR, after previously being mainly held in Wuzhen in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, over the past decade.

Lee said Hong Kong has a lot to offer as he called on global investors and firms to prioritise collaboration in these particularly challenging times.

"Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism," he said.

"We believe in teamwork and offer a range of welcoming programmes for investors, companies, researchers and other strategic talent.

"Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue development with us.

"In this global city, we will make a dedicated difference for you and your future."

Separately, Lee noted that the SAR is dedicated to maximising the use of artificial intelligence technology to assist the city in its goal of "new industrialisation".

He also said he believes the Northern Metropolis, which occupies a site equivalent to up to a third of the city's land area and sits next to Shenzhen, will emerge as a global top innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

"I'm confident that our collaborative efforts with Shenzhen, and throughout the Greater Bay Area, will see the rise of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone as a world-class I&T hub, creating a critical source of new quality productive forces for the country," he said.

Themed “Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, the event's Hong Kong debut also marks the first time that the WIC, also known as the Wuzhen Summit, is hosting an Asia-Pacific edition of the event.

Key topics during the event's forums includes tech trends in AI, digital finance, e-government and smart living.