10th Belt and Road Summit Drives Global Collaboration with 33 Signed Agreements

The 10th Belt and Road Summit opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Celebrating its decade milestone under the theme Collaborate for Change • Shape a Shared Future, the summit convened over 90 key officials and business leaders from 16 Belt and Road countries and regions. This gathering aims to explore new collaboration opportunities and forge a win-win future, emphasizing multilateral cooperation and tangible economic outcomes.

On the first day, 33 Memoranda of Understanding were signed, involving countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE. These agreements cover multiple sectors including finance, infrastructure, and technology, highlighting the summit's role in fostering business cooperation. The signing of these MoUs demonstrates the ongoing commitment to transforming the Belt and Road Initiative into concrete projects that drive regional growth and connectivity.

The Opening Session featured remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, who emphasized Hong Kong's unique position as a Belt and Road hub. Lee stated, Hong Kong is the ideal Belt and Road hub. As the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage, Hong Kong stands as the premier gateway for co-operation. This underscores Hong Kong's role as a super connector and super value-adder for high-quality collaborations worldwide, adding strategic value through innovation and sustainability.

A Policy Dialogue titled Embracing Emerging Opportunities in Times of Economic Uncertainty was hosted by Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR. Key government officials from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan discussed the latest Belt and Road policies and opportunities for multilateral cooperation. This dialogue addressed how businesses can seize opportunities amid global economic uncertainty, fostering enhanced economic collaboration.

The Keynote Luncheon focused on Fostering Regional Cooperation through Concrete Business Partnerships, featuring Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Center. Bekturov shared insights on tangible cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, highlighting initiatives like the Turkic Green Finance Council. He noted, 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, emphasizing the importance of responsible and transparent finance.

New sessions were introduced this year, including the Signature Belt and Road Projects Session, which encourages Hong Kong's professional services to participate in major infrastructure developments. One session featured investment opportunities in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor, while another will discuss sustainability in urban design through Saudi Arabia's New Murabba project. These sessions aim to foster regional cooperation and economic growth by showcasing key projects.

The Project Investment Session added a Middle East & ASEAN Market Focus, exploring potential opportunities in these regions. This session, along with over 300 investment projects presented, provides businesses with targeted collaboration prospects. The summit's deal-making services, including more than 800 one-to-one project matching meetings, reinforce Hong Kong's role as a vital hub for the Belt and Road Initiative. Details on the summit's program can be found at https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en/programme.

An exhibition area featured five zones: ASEAN Zone, Hong Kong Zone, Global Investment Zone, InnoTech Zone, and Mainland Zone. These zones highlight projects and innovations from various regions, supporting the summit's goal of connectivity and collaboration. The event is supported by partners such as China International Capital Corporation Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, further solidifying its impact on global trade and investment. For more information, visit the main summit website at https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en.

The implications of this summit are significant for global economic development, as it facilitates cross-border partnerships that can drive infrastructure growth, technological advancement, and sustainable practices. By leveraging Hong Kong's strategic position, the Belt and Road Initiative continues to enhance international trade and investment, offering opportunities for businesses and economies worldwide to achieve mutual benefits and long-term prosperity.