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 convenes 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.
The Summit's first day yielded significant results, with multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed across finance, professional services, industry, and construction. These agreements involve organisations from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. More MoUs are expected tomorrow, transforming connections into tangible business opportunities.
In his opening remarks, John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, 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 said. 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 agreements.
Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, stressed the importance of diversification. "In a world full of risks and uncertainties, diversification is a necessity, not a choice," he stated. 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.
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 use Uzbekistan as a gateway to Central Asia, while Cosse highlighted Uruguay's readiness to translate Belt and Road commitment into tangible outcomes. Kommasith praised the Lao-China Railway for transforming Laos from a landlocked to a land-linked logistics hub, with bilateral trade surpassing US$9.8 billion.
Yan Dong, Vice Minister 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, underscoring support for Hong Kong's professional services and its role as a "super connector."
The Summit introduced new thematic zones, including the GoGlobal Connect Zone, Central Asia Chapter, and Middle East Chapter, reflecting a strategic focus on emerging markets. A new ASEAN Market Day will be held on 10 September, providing insights for Hong Kong SMEs to expand into ASEAN. The event also features over 300 investment projects and more than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings.
The Summit's comprehensive programme includes policy dialogues, business plenaries, and project investment sessions covering energy, infrastructure, innovation, and technology. The exhibition zone hosts over 120 exhibitors, including new University and GreenTech zones.
With its emphasis on high-quality development and emerging market opportunities, the 11th Belt and Road Summit underscores Hong Kong's pivotal role in advancing regional cooperation and global business expansion. For more information, visit the Belt and Road Summit website and the programme page.
