The Third 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), the 3rd Belt and Road Summit was held on 28 June 2018. With the theme “Collaborate for Success”, the Summit was well received with around 5 000 participants from 55 countries and regions. Over 230 investment projects were presented and more than 520 one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged at the Summit.

The programme of the Summit included:

(1) Opening Session;
(2) Signing Ceremony of the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong, China and Georgia;
(3) Plenary Session – Action through Collaboration: Case Studies on Signature Belt and Road Projects;
(4) Luncheon Plenary;
(5) Nine Concurrent Breakout Sessions; and
(6) Investment and Business Matching Sessions.

(1) Opening Session

Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR delivered her opening address.

Opening address of Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive (English only)

Mr Xiao Yaqing, the Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; Mr Ning Jizhe, the Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission; Madam Gao Yan, the Vice Minister of Commerce delivered special addresses at the opening session. Their speeches can be found as follows:

In addition, Dr Somkid Jatusripitak, the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, addressed the audience with keynote speech at the Opening Session.

(2) Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong, China and Georgia – Signing Ceremony

Mr Edward Yau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) of the HKSAR and Mr Genadi Arveladze, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, signed the Free Trade Agreement at the signing ceremony held in the Belt and Road Summit.

(3) Plenary Session – Action through Collaboration: Case Studies on Signature Belt and Road Projects

A lead-in speech was delivered by Mr Edward Yau, SCED.

Lead-in Speech of Mr Edward Yau, SCED (English only)

Mr Bernard Chan, President of the Asia Financial Holdings Ltd, chaired the Plenary Session and discussed with world-renowned business leaders at the panel concerning the importance of Belt and Road projects in progressing and steering developments.

(4) Luncheon Plenary

Mr Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks in the Luncheon Plenary.

Opening remarks of Mr Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary (English only)

Mr Edward Yau, SCED, chaired the Ministerial Dialogue with the participation of the National Security Advisor, Union Minister for the Ministry of the Office of the Union Government and Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Thaung Tun; the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Georgia, Mr Genadi Arveladze; the Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, the United Kingdom, Baroness Fairhead; and the Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Lim Sidenine.

(5) Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Risk Mitigation in Infrastructure Financing
Co-organised with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO), and chaired by Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Director of the IFFO Mr Eddie Yue, the panel looked into the risk elements involved in the infrastructure projects in emerging markets, and ways to mitigate such risks.
Digital Silk Road
Co-organised with Cyberport, the panel speakers discussed how to harness digital technology to promote the development of cross-border finance, commerce and urban infrastructure.
Chinese Infrastructure Investment Trends and Opportunities
Co-organised with Chinese International Contractors Association, the session offered an insider perspective at the trends and opportunities of Chinese infrastructure investments and constructions related to the Belt and Road, and Hong Kong professional services’ participation in these areas.
Green Finance
Co-organised with the Financial Services Development Council, this session assessed the outlook for green finance in Belt and Road, and how Hong Kong may promote green finance.
Hong Kong as the Deal Maker and Dispute Resolver
Part I: Deal Maker in International Cross-Border Transactions
Co-organised with the Department of Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR delivered welcome remarks at this breakout session. The session studied how the legal sector in Hong Kong could provide risk management related services for company across the globe during different stages of investment.
Women Entrepreneurship on the Belt and Road
Presented by the South China Morning Post, and Ms Zuraidah Ibrahim, its Deputy Executive Editor chaired the panel. Leading women entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, the Mainland and Southeast Asia shared their perspectives on the challenges they faced and how they tackled the problems when exploring Belt and Road.
Sharing by Young Business Leaders on Belt and Road Opportunities
Supported by InvestHK, a panel of young business leaders exchanged views on the implications and opportunities of the Initiative for entrepreneurship.
Using Hong Kong as a Centre for Risk Management of the Belt and Road Projects
Co-organised with the Insurance Authority, the session explored how insurance services manage different risks encountered when dealing with overseas assets and businesses under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Hong Kong as the Deal Maker and Dispute Resolver
Part II: The Dispute Resolver: Hong Kong’s Dispute Resolution Services
Carrying forward the discussion in Part I (see item 5), this Part II session was also co-organised with the Department of Justice. Panelists focused their discussion on the benefits to use dispute resolution services to protect investment, and in identifying ways to handle investor-state disputes.

Speeches of the concurrent breakout sessions are available at the webpage of HKTDC.