Hong kong: The Ninth Belt and Road Summit, organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, kicked off today under the theme “Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road”.
The two-day summit gathered over 80 top officials and business leaders from Belt and Road countries and regions to explore numerous commercial opportunities.
This year’s summit marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The event, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, serves as a leading platform for Hong Kong to promote the BRI, aligning closely with the eight key steps outlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year to support the collective pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
In his opening speech, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, emphasised the importance of green development, noting, “Hong Kong contrib
utes to the cause of sustainability by not only developing green tech, but also by leveraging our expertise in financial services and driving the development of green finance.”
He added that earlier this year, Hong Kong launched the world’s first multi-currency, tokenised green bond, part of its commitment as a green finance hub.
Lee added that this year’s summit, which drew 6,000 prominent figures from various countries, has inspired countries and economies to share opportunities, accelerate joint development, and embrace comprehensive cultural exchanges.
Last year, Belt and Road economies accounted for more than 43 percent of Hong Kong’s external trade, in value, with the rest of the world other than the Mainland. That compares with less than one-third in 2013.
Lee also highlighted Hong Kong’s strategic location as ideal for playing a pivotal role in advancing the Belt and Road’s goals. “We came fifth in the world in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook. In the fields of ‘international trade’ and ‘
business legislation’, we were ranked first globally.”
He also pointed out that between 2013 and 2023, Hong Kong’s external trade with Belt and Road economies other than the Mainland surged by almost 60 percent – 3.8 times the growth rate of its trade with all economies.
The summit’s first day will focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other markets, while the second day will cover the Middle East and surrounding regions to explore more emerging market opportunities.
During a press briefing on the summit’s eve, Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt and Road Initiative, emphasised the deep ties between the UAE and Hong Kong that began in the early 2000s.
He also highlighted the significant cooperation between the Dubai International Financial Centre and Hong Kong’s International Financial Centre, as well as collaboration in green and blue economy sectors. He praised the UAE’s policies for fostering innovations and market exploration.
The Commissioner said that future coopera
tion between the UAE and Hong Kong would focus on professional services, infrastructure, green innovation, and healthcare.
Source: Emirates News Agency