11th Belt and Road Summit Opens in Hong Kong, Highlighting Global Business Expansion and Emerging Market Opportunities

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 in Wan Chai. Under the theme 'Advancing High-Quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey,' the Summit convenes more than 100 government officials, business leaders, and professionals from Belt and Road countries and regions to explore new opportunities in high-quality Belt and Road development, promote cross-regional trade and industrial matching, and accelerate concrete outcomes. The event underscores Hong Kong's pivotal role as a super-connector and springboard for international business expansion.

On the first day, multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed, spanning finance, professional services, industry, and construction, involving organisations from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. These agreements translate discussions into tangible collaborations, facilitating business partnerships and cross-border investments. More MoUs are expected tomorrow, further solidifying the Summit's impact on global trade and investment.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, emphasised Hong Kong's unique position in his opening remarks: 'Hong Kong is an ideal two-way springboard for Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, and for international companies looking to enter the Mainland market.' He noted that the GoGlobal Task Force, established last October, has assisted over 300 Mainland enterprises in establishing or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong. Lee also highlighted his missions to 13 Belt and Road countries since 2022, which delivered over 250 MoUs and agreements, reinforcing Hong Kong's commitment to opening new markets and advancing regional cooperation.

Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, stressed the necessity of diversification in a world of risks and uncertainties: 'The Belt and Road Initiative has never been more relevant. At its core, the Initiative is about forging new connections, turning potential into opportunity and opportunity into tangible development.' He pointed to ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America as regions with the greatest growth potential. The Summit introduced new thematic zones, including the 'GoGlobal Connect' zone, to support enterprises in expanding internationally.

Special addresses were delivered by Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; Carolina Cosse, Vice President of Uruguay; and Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos. Aripov invited participants to create new manufacturing and technology value chains in Uzbekistan, while Cosse highlighted Uruguay's readiness to translate Belt and Road commitment into tangible cooperative outcomes. Kommasith cited the Lao-China Railway as a historic achievement, which has facilitated over 70 million passengers and transported over 90 million metric tons of freight, transforming Laos from a landlocked to a land-linked regional logistics hub.

Yan Dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, and Li Zhen, Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, delivered special remarks. Yan expressed support for Hong Kong's professional services in Belt and Road projects, while Li emphasised guiding central state-owned enterprises to establish treasury and trade centres in Hong Kong, reinforcing its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre.

The Summit's Policy Dialogue, themed 'Building Resilient Trade and Investment Frameworks in a Diverse Global Landscape,' featured government officials from Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Qatar, and Thailand. They exchanged views on promoting cross-border trade, facilitating investment flows, and strengthening economic resilience. The Business Plenary I, chaired by Dr Victor K Fung, explored development potential in ASEAN and Central Asian markets, with speakers discussing cross-border investment, industrial collaboration, and innovation-driven development.

New chapters for GoGlobal, Central Asia, and the Middle East spotlighted emerging market opportunities. The GoGlobal Chapter created a one-stop platform for networking and business matching, while the Central Asia and Middle East Chapters focused on investment opportunities and development potential. The Signature Projects Session featured presentations on Alatau City and the Data Center Valley, showcasing opportunities in innovation, smart city development, and infrastructure. The Project Investment Sessions will explore investment opportunities in Central Asia and the Middle East over the next two days.

The Summit also features an Exhibition Zone with over 120 exhibitors across thematic zones, including the new University Zone, GreenTech Zone, GoGlobal Connect Zone, Central Asia Zone, and Middle East Zone. The Project Investment Sessions cover more than 300 investment projects and facilitate over 800 one-to-one business matching meetings, helping participants uncover collaboration opportunities. The Belt and Road Summit Deal-Making will be extended online to 14 and 15 September, enabling global connections.

The 11th Belt and Road Summit is supported by partners including China International Capital Corporation Limited as Strategic Partner and Bank of China (Hong Kong) as Banking Partner. For more information, visit the Belt and Road Summit website. The HKTDC, celebrating its 60th anniversary, continues to promote Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. Learn more at HKTDC's website.