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 gathers more than 100 government officials, business leaders, and professionals from Belt and Road countries and regions to explore opportunities in high-quality Belt and Road development, promote cross-regional trade and industrial matching, and accelerate concrete outcomes.
The Summit's significance lies in its role as a catalyst for international cooperation and business partnerships. Multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed on the 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 underscore the Summit's ability to transform connections into tangible collaborations, with more expected tomorrow. In a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain reconfiguration, such deals are vital for enhancing trade and investment resilience.
Opening remarks were delivered by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC. Special addresses were given by 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 of the State Council, also delivered special remarks.
John Lee emphasised Hong Kong's role 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 noted that the GoGlobal Task Force, established last October, has assisted over 300 Mainland enterprises in establishing or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong. He also highlighted that since 2022, high-level business delegations to 13 Belt and Road countries have delivered over 250 MOUs and other agreements.
Professor Frederick Ma underscored the importance of diversification: "In a world full of risks and uncertainties, diversification is a necessity, not a choice. We must seize new opportunities even as we navigate new challenges. That is why the Belt and Road Initiative has never been more relevant." He pointed to ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America as regions with the greatest growth potential and introduced the new "GoGlobal Connect" zone to support enterprises expanding internationally.
Abdulla Aripov of Uzbekistan described the Belt and Road Initiative as an effective platform for reviving the ancient Silk Road in a modern format and invited participants to use Uzbekistan as a gateway to Central Asia. Carolina Cosse of Uruguay highlighted her country's early support for the initiative and its readiness to facilitate capital flows and trade financing into Latin America and Asia. Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos cited the Lao-China Railway as tangible evidence of high-quality BRI cooperation, which has transformed Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked regional logistics hub.
The Policy Dialogue, themed "Building Resilient Trade and Investment Frameworks in a Diverse Global Landscape," featured ministers from Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Qatar, and Thailand. The Business Plenary brought together leaders from ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Chinese Mainland to discuss cross-border investment and sustainable development.
New chapters for Central Asia and the Middle East spotlight opportunities in emerging markets, with dedicated sessions and exhibition zones. The Summit also features over 300 investment projects and facilitates more than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings. For more information, visit the Belt and Road Summit website.
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. The event is a key part of Belt and Road Week, which includes the new ASEAN Market Day and the Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable.
