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), commenced today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme "Advancing High-Quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey," the Summit gathers 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. This year's event underscores Hong Kong's pivotal role as a two-way springboard between Mainland China and global markets, especially as businesses seek to diversify amid geopolitical uncertainties and supply chain realignments.
The first day yielded significant results, with multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed across finance, professional services, industry, and construction. These involve organisations from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Uzbekistan, with more expected tomorrow. Such agreements transform summit discussions into tangible collaborations, highlighting the Summit's effectiveness as a deal-making platform. The Opening Session featured remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, alongside special addresses from Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; Carolina Cosse, Vice President of Uruguay; and Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos. 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, also delivered special remarks.
John Lee emphasised Hong Kong's unique advantages: "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 has assisted over 300 Mainland enterprises in establishing or expanding in Hong Kong, and that since 2022, high-level delegations have explored opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries, delivering over 250 MOUs. Professor Frederick Ma added, "In a world full of risks and uncertainties, diversification is a necessity, not a choice... ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are among the regions with the greatest growth potential." He highlighted new thematic zones like the "GoGlobal Connect" zone, which brings Hong Kong's professional services to support international expansion.
Leaders from partner nations outlined their commitment. Abdulla Aripov invited participants to use Uzbekistan as a gateway to Central Asia, while Carolina Cosse reaffirmed Uruguay's support for the Belt and Road Initiative as a path to tangible cooperation. Saleumxay Kommasith cited the Lao-China Railway as a transformative project, which has facilitated over 70 million passengers and 90 million metric tons of freight, expanding Laos's trade from 13 commodity categories to over 4,000 products and boosting bilateral trade with China to over US$9.8 billion. These testimonials illustrate the Initiative's concrete impact on infrastructure, connectivity, and economic integration.
The Summit also introduced new chapters focused on Central Asia and the Middle East, alongside a GoGlobal Chapter, to spotlight emerging market opportunities. The Policy Dialogue and Business Plenary sessions addressed building resilient trade frameworks and harnessing sustainable growth, with participants from Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Qatar, and Thailand. Additionally, the ASEAN Market Day and the Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable will further facilitate exchanges and multilateral cooperation. With over 300 investment projects showcased and more than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings, the Summit serves as a vital platform for project implementation and partnership building.
For more information, visit the Belt and Road Summit website and the programme page. The event's significance lies in its role in fostering high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, driving economic resilience, and connecting global markets at a time when diversification is paramount.
