The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme Advancing High-Quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey, the Summit brings together more than 100 government officials, business leaders, and professionals from Belt and Road countries and regions to explore new opportunities, promote cross-regional trade and industrial matching, and accelerate concrete outcomes.
The Summit's significance is underscored by the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements on its first day, spanning finance, professional services, industry, and construction, and involving organisations from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. These agreements demonstrate the Summit's role in transforming dialogue into tangible collaborations. More MoUs are expected tomorrow, further cementing the event as a catalyst for business partnerships.
In his opening remarks, John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, emphasised Hong Kong's unique position as a two-way springboard. "Hong Kong is an ideal two-way springboard for Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, and for international companies looking to enter the Mainland market," he said. He highlighted the GoGlobal Task Force, established last October, which has assisted over 300 Mainland enterprises in establishing or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong, and noted that since 2022, high-level business delegations have explored opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries, delivering over 250 MOUs and other agreements.
Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, stressed the importance of diversification in a world of risks and uncertainties. "The Belt and Road Initiative has never been more relevant," he remarked, pointing to ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America as regions with the greatest growth potential. He introduced the new 'GoGlobal Connect' zone, which brings Hong Kong's professional services expertise to support enterprises expanding internationally.
The Summit also featured special addresses from leaders of Belt and Road partner countries. Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, invited participants to create new manufacturing and technology value chains in Uzbekistan, positioning the country as a gateway to Central Asia. Carolina Cosse, Vice President of Uruguay, reaffirmed Uruguay's commitment to the BRI and its readiness to facilitate capital flows and trade financing into Latin America. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos, highlighted the transformative impact of the Lao-China Railway, which has facilitated over 70 million passengers and 90 million metric tons of freight, expanding Laos's trade profile from 13 commodity categories to more than 4,000 products.
Chinese officials also voiced strong support. Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce, said China will support Hong Kong in leveraging its professional services to participate deeply in Belt and Road cooperation projects. Li Zhen, Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, noted that central state-owned enterprises are guided to establish treasury and trade centres, R&D institutions, and international business headquarters in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's role as a super-connector and super value-adder.
The Summit's programme includes new thematic zones and sessions focused on emerging markets. The Central Asia Chapter and Middle East Chapter spotlight investment opportunities in these regions, with presentations on projects such as Alatau City and the Data Center Valley in Kazakhstan. The Project Investment Sessions cover over 300 investment projects and facilitate more than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings. The Exhibition Zone hosts over 120 exhibitors across thematic zones, including the new University Zone, GreenTech Zone, and GoGlobal Connect Zone.
Additionally, the HKTDC introduced the ASEAN Market Day, a new flagship event held concurrently during Belt and Road Week, to help Hong Kong companies, particularly SMEs, deepen their understanding of ASEAN markets. The Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable on 11 September will bring together international organisations to explore multilateral cooperation.
For more information, visit the Belt and Road Summit website at https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en.
