The Belt and Road Summit, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking its 10th edition under the theme Collaborate for Change • Shape a Shared Future. The event convened over 90 key officials and business leaders from 16 Belt and Road countries and regions, aiming to explore new collaboration opportunities and foster a win-win future.
On the first day, 33 Memoranda of Understanding were signed, involving countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE, covering sectors including finance, infrastructure, and technology. This demonstrates the Summit's role in advancing tangible economic cooperation and multilateral partnerships. The Opening Session featured remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, who emphasized Hong Kong's role as an ideal Belt and Road hub, leveraging its unique position to connect Asia and the world as a super connector and value-adder.
The Policy Dialogue, themed Embracing Emerging Opportunities in Times of Economic Uncertainty, included key government officials from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, discussing latest Belt and Road policies and opportunities for enhanced multilateral cooperation. This dialogue underscores the importance of adapting to global economic shifts and seizing collaborative prospects. Additionally, the Keynote Luncheon featured Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Center, who highlighted initiatives like the Turkic Green Finance Council, stressing the need for responsible and sustainable finance, with Hong Kong's leadership in this area being invaluable for channeling green capital into profitable projects.
A new Signature Belt and Road Projects Session was introduced to present major infrastructure developments, such as investment opportunities in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor, hosted by Dr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office. This session aims to encourage Hong Kong's professional services to participate in regional growth. The Project Investment Session will feature a Middle East & ASEAN Market Focus, exploring potential opportunities in these key markets, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a vital hub. For detailed information, visit the Summit's official website.
The Summit offers extensive networking and deal-making opportunities, with over 300 investment projects showcased and more than 800 one-to-one project matching meetings expected. An exhibition area includes zones focused on ASEAN, Hong Kong services, global investments, innovation technology, and mainland China developments, highlighting sectors like infrastructure, AI, and digital economy. Supported by partners such as China International Capital Corporation Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, the event underscores Hong Kong's strategic importance in driving high-quality development along the Belt and Road, fostering international collaboration and economic resilience amid global uncertainties.
