A decade of ambitious global connectivity was celebrated in Hong Kong this week as the Belt and Road Summit convened, marking its 10th anniversary with a powerful theme: Collaborate for Change • Shape a Shared Future. The event brought together a formidable assembly of over 90 government and business leaders from 16 countries, signaling a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation amidst a complex global economic landscape.
The immediate impact was tangible, with the first day of the summit alone resulting in the signing of 33 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). These agreements, spanning projects in Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE, underscore a vibrant push towards concrete collaboration in sectors like finance, infrastructure, and technology.
A Premier Gateway for Global Collaboration
In his opening address, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, positioned the city as the indispensable hub for the initiative. “Hong Kong is the ideal Belt and Road hub,” Lee stated. “We are a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ for high-quality collaborations worldwide… injecting vigour, innovation and sustainability, adding strategic value to everything we do.”
This sentiment was echoed by Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), who reflected on the summit’s milestone. “Over the past decade, it has been gathering key voices in government and business from across the Belt and Road and beyond for dialogue and collaboration. Vital partnerships have been forged, impactful projects have been launched, and cross-border ties have been strengthened.”
Policy Dialogue in an Era of Uncertainty
A core segment of the day one agenda was the Policy Dialogue, themed “Embracing Emerging Opportunities in times of Economic Uncertainty.” Chaired by Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, the session featured high-level officials from Malaysia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia. Their discussion focused on navigating current economic challenges and leveraging the latest Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) policies to enhance multilateral economic cooperation.
The practical benefits of such collaboration were highlighted by Sun Chanthol</strong, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, who delivered a keynote address. “Over the past decade, Cambodia has achieved remarkable progress,” he shared, detailing the construction of over 3,000 kilometers of roads and 16 major bridges that have “transformed the daily lives of millions of Cambodians” and boosted the nation’s role as a regional trade hub.
Forging Concrete Business Partnerships
The focus on actionable outcomes continued at the Keynote Luncheon, where Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC)</strong), illustrated how tangible cooperation yields results. He pointed to the newly created Turkic Green Finance Council, noting, “This is where Hong Kong’s leadership in sustainable finance is invaluable. By joining forces with Hong Kong, we can channel trillions of dollars of green capital into Belt and Road projects that are profitable and sustainable.”
New Sessions for a New Decade
To mark its 10th edition, the summit introduced new formats designed to deepen engagement. The inaugural Signature Belt and Road Projects Session provided a platform for presenting major infrastructure developments, such as investment opportunities in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor.
A new Middle East & ASEAN Market Focus segment, featured in the Project Investment Session, will offer businesses targeted insights into these high-growth regions. This session aims to provide attendees with precise investment and collaboration prospects, further solidifying Hong Kong’s role as a vital deal-making hub for the BRI.
Beyond the conference rooms, the summit facilitates direct connection through its extensive Belt and Road Deal-Making service, which is showcasing over 300 projects and is expected to host more than 800 one-to-one matching meetings. A dedicated exhibition area, featuring new zones focused on ASEAN and InnoTech, connects global participants with the latest innovations and opportunities.
As the summit continues into its second day, the flurry of signed agreements and the depth of dialogue have already set a confident tone for the next decade of the Belt and Road Initiative, with Hong Kong firmly at its center.
