The Eighth Belt and Road Summit
The 8th Belt and Road Summit, which was held on 13-14 September 2023, attracted nearly 6 000 representatives from more than 70 Belt and Road related countries and regions, including government officials from more than 10 countries and prominent international business leaders, over 100 delegations, as well as over 35 state-owned enterprises from the Mainland, a record high over past editions. With the theme “Prospering on a Decade of Collaboration”, the Summit in 2023 celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI). Over 800 one-on-one business matching meeting sessions for more than 280 projects were arranged. Besides, the Summit also featured an exhibition with more than 100 companies showcasing large-scale investment projects and opportunities from different countries to attract international investors and partners.
Summit Highlights
The programme of the Summit includes -
- Opening Session;
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Exchange Ceremony
-
Policy Dialogue Sessions
- Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East
- Belt and Road Initiative as a Catalyst for Regional Cooperation and Development
- Keynote Luncheon - Resiliency and Development on Entering a New Era of the Belt and Road Initiative
- Business Plenary - Fostering Business Collaboration along the Belt and Road through Hong Kong
- Middle East Forum - Business Session on Middle East: Outlook in the Middle East Market
- Finance Chapter
- Hong Kong: Capital Raising Hub for Middle East, ASEAN and Beyond
- Energy Transition: Mobilising Private Finance
- Green Technology Development for Belt and Road
- Digital Technology in GBA and Belt & Road Development
- Youth Chapter - Start-ups and Young Business Leaders’ Insights
- Thematic Breakout Sessions
- Project Investment Sessions
(1) Opening Session
The Hon John KC Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR delivered opening remarks.
Mr Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, graced the event and gave a video keynote speech.
- Video keynote speech of Mr Ding Xuexiang (Chinese only)
In addition, Deputy Director, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and Director, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Guo Tingting; Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Mr Gou Ping; Deputy Secretary General of National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Xiao Weiming gave special addresses. Besides, Mr Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan and Dr Rizal Affandi Lukman, Special Staff to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia delivered keynote address respectively.
(2) MoU Exchange Ceremony
The HKSAR Government exchanged co-operation agreements with the Mainland on water quality management and meteorological science and technology, as well as MoUs with Sri Lanka and the Emirate of Dubai respectively on environmental protection and financial services co-operation. Another 17 co-operation MoUs on business side were also signed during the two-day Summit, making the total number of MoUs entered at the Summit to the record high of 21.
(3) Policy Dialogue Sessions
The Hon Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, chaired the Policy Dialogue Session titled “Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East” to explore effective ways to tap the Middle East markets, fostering complementarity, mutual benefits and collective developments. He was joined by Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, H.E. Dr Rania A. Al-Mashat; Minister of Economy of UAE, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri; and Advisor in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Fahd bin Abdulmohsan Al-Rasheed.
The Hon Algernon Yau, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, was the Panel Chair of the Policy Dialogue Session “Belt and Road Initiative as a Catalyst for Regional Cooperation and Development” with focus on market integration and connectivity among economies. Panelists included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Péter Szijjártó; Minister of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Chi Dzung; and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, the Honourable Datuk Mohamad bin Haji Alamin.
(4) Keynote Luncheon
The Hon Paul Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, gave welcome remarks at the keynote luncheon titled “Resiliency and Development on Entering a New Era of the Belt and Road Initiative”. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn gave the keynote address at the luncheon.
(5) Business Plenary
Mr Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group and Group Chairman & Co-Founder of New Frontier Group, chaired the plenary session and discussed with world-renowned business leaders on “Fostering Business Collaboration along the Belt and Road through Hong Kong”.
(6) Middle East Forum - Business Session on Middle East: Outlook in the Middle East Market
H.E. Chen Weiqing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and H.E. Zhang Yiming, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the United Arab Emirates delivered special address at the Forum respectively.
H.E. Saleh Majid Al-Khulaifi, Deputy Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development of Qatar; H.E. Khalid Saeed Al Shuaibi, President of Oman National Program for Investment & Export Development; and H.E. Ahmed Helal Al Blooshi, Executive Director of the Economic Strategy Sector at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development gave special remarks on the market opportunities in their respective countries.
Led by Mr Ronnie C. Chan, GBM, Chair, Hang Lung Properties Limited, the panel explored with Middle East panelists and others the opportunities, developments and collaboration being presented in the Middle East region under the B&RI.
(7) Finance Chapter – to delve into Hong Kong’s superior financial services, innovative technologies and sustainable development vision, exploring how they can contribute to the B&RI and countries and regions along the Belt and Road.
1. Hong Kong: Capital Raising Hub for Middle East, ASEAN and Beyond
This session was co-organised with Financial Services Development Council. The Hon Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR delivered opening remarks at the session. Led by Mr Daniel R. Fung, SBS, SC, KC, JP, Vice Chairman, FSDC Financial Services Development Council, panel speakers including Mr Joseph H.L. Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury discussed the role of Hong Kong as the capital raising hub for the Middle East, ASEAN and beyond.
2. Energy Transition: Mobilising Private Finance
This session was co-organised with the Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of HKMA gave welcome remarks at the session. Ms Zhu Jun, Chairwoman of Silk Road Fund then delivered the opening remarks. Moderated by Mr Rami Hayek, General Manager of IFFO, the panel shared views on how to mobilise private finance in view of the energy transition.
3. Green Technology Development for Belt and Road
This session was co-organised with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). Mr Tony Ho, Chief Project Development Officer of HKSTP gave welcome remarks at the session. The panel led by Ms Alexandra Tracy, Head of Research of Carbonless Asia discussed the green technology development for the Belt and Road.
4. Digital Technology in GBA and Belt & Road Development
This session was co-organised with Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport). Mr Simon Chan, Chairman of Cbyerport gave welcome remarks at the session. Two panels led by Ms Rachel Lee, Senior Manager of Cyberport and Mr Victor Yim, Head of FinTech of Cyberport respectively discussed the Web3 development and the financial inclusion through technology with industry players.
(8) Youth Chapter - Start-ups and Young Business Leaders’ Insights
This session was organised with Hong Kong Trade Development Council and supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK). Ms Phoebe Tse, General Manager of Commercial Banking Department of BOCHK gave welcome remarks at the session. Led by Ir Andrew Young, Associate Director (Innovation) of Sino Group (Hong Kong), young business leaders and start-ups shared their insights and experiences on discovering and seizing opportunities under the B&RI. Around 150 recipients of the Belt and Road Scholarship as well as YDC Youth Ambassadors from the Youth Development Commission also took part in the Summit to promote people-to-people exchanges.
(9) Thematic Breakout Sessions
1. Mainland-Hong Kong Trade in Services Symposium: Chinese Service for the Global Market
This session was co-organised with Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Republic of China. Dr Bernard Chan, JP, Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR gave welcome remarks at this session. Chaired by Director of Research of HKTDC, Ms Irina Fan, a panel of different industry players discussed how the Mainland and Hong Kong services providers can serve better the global market.
2. International Legal Co-operation
This session was co-organised with the Department of Justice. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, gave opening remarks. A keynote speech was then given by the Secretary-General of Hague Conference on Private International Law, Dr Christophe Bernasconi. Dr Anthony Neoh, SC, Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law chaired the subsequent panel discussion on international legal co-operation.
3. Opportunities in Hong Kong Infrastructure to Boost High-quality Belt and Road Development
This session was co-organised with China International Contractors Association and supported by Development Bureau. The Hon Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, JP, Secretary for Development of the HKSAR gave opening remarks. The panel discussion was led by Mr Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for the Belt and Road of the HKSAR. Representatives from enterprises discussed how the opportunities in Hong Kong infrastructure like the Northern Metropolis and Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands can boost the high quality development of the Belt and Road.
4. Professional risk management services in support of Belt and Road development
This session was co-organised with Insurance Authority (IA). Chaired by Professor Anna Wong, Non-Executive Director of IA, insurance experts at the panel discussed how the risk management services can help in support of the Belt and Road development.
(10) Project Investment Sessions
More than 280 projects were presented at the hybrid business matching and project investment sessions, covering four main areas: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities; (2) innovation and technology; (3) urban development; and (4) transportation and logistics infrastructure. Over 800 one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged. Three new project investment sessions on the Middle East and emerging markets were arranged as well.