11th Belt and Road Summit Opens in Hong Kong

Phoenix News — The 11th Belt and Road Summit opened in Hong Kong on September 10, bringing together more than 6,000 officials and business leaders from over 70 countries and regions.

Speaking at the event, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said that in a world facing unprecedented change and geopolitical fragmentation, the core principles of the Belt and Road Initiative — connectivity, cooperation, and consensus — are essential. "The Belt and Road Initiative is not a map of the past, but a shared blueprint for the future. And Hong Kong is where we realize that future," he said.

According to data released at the summit, Hong Kong's merchandise trade with Belt and Road partner countries rose by nearly 17 percent last year to approximately US$323 billion. Nearly 1,500 companies from Belt and Road partner countries have established offices in Hong Kong, and more than 100 companies from these economies are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with more in the pipeline.

Frederick Ma, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said the initiative aims to build closer links and convert potential into tangible global benefits, identifying ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America as key regions of opportunity.

A total of 32 memoranda of understanding and agreements were signed on the first day of the summit, covering finance, professional services, and construction.