Greeting President Xi Jinping at the airport and meeting Hongkongers in South Korea were on Chief Executive John Lee’s agenda on Thursday, as part of the SAR leader’s trip for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Gyeongju.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV and the Hong Kong government showed Lee shaking hands and exchanging words with Xi on the tarmac at Gimhae airport in Busan.

A closely-watched meeting between the Chinese leader and US President Donald Trump was held in Busan.

The chief executive was also in Busan to meet Hong Kong people and business representatives based in South Korea “to learn more about their daily lives and developments” in the afternoon, a government statement said.

“Mr Lee encouraged them to leverage their strengths to tell the good stories of Hong Kong and contribute to the economic and trade co-operation, as well as people-to-people exchanges, between the two places,” the statement read.

Lee, along with Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau, was also to join a dinner in Gyeongju with the SAR’s representative to the Apec Business Advisory Council.

Lee will continue his visit on Friday, attending a series of Apec-related meetings and events.