HKTDC: The 10th Belt and Road Summit opened today

- Gathering global collaboration synergy to foster innovative development

HONG KONG, Sept 10, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - - This year's Belt and Road Summit celebrates its 10th edition, under the theme Collaborate for Change - Shape a Shared Future, convening over 90 key officials and business leaders from 16 Belt and Road countries and regions
- On the first day of the Summit, 33 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed, covering projects in Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, the UAE, and more, fostering business cooperation
- The Day 1 Policy Dialogue was themed Embracing Emerging Opportunities in times of Economic Uncertainty and featured key government officials from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, discussing the latest Belt and Road policies and opportunities for multilateral cooperation
- Keynote Luncheon featured Renat Bekturov, Governor, Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), under the theme of Fostering Regional Cooperation through Concrete Business Partnerships, who shared insights into how tangible cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong has come to fruition
- A new Signature Belt and Road Projects Session was introduced to present major infrastructure projects. Additionally, the Project Investment Session featured a new segment themed Middle East & ASEAN Market Focus

The Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year marks a significant milestone as the Summit celebrates its 10th edition under the theme Collaborate for Change - Shape a Shared Future. The Summit has convened over 90 key officials and business leaders from 16 Belt and Road countries and regions, aiming to explore new opportunities for collaboration and forge a win-win future.

The Summit is dedicated to advancing multilateral cooperation, successfully signing 33 MoU on the first day, involving countries and regions such as Australia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar and the UAE covering multiple sectors including finance, infrastructure and technology. On the second day, the Summit will continue to showcase the signing of more MoUs, fostering even greater collaboration and tangible results.

The Opening Session featured opening remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and welcome remarks by Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC. Special addresses were delivered by Yan Dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Li Zhen, Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and Xiao Weiming, Deputy Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China. Keynote address was delivered by Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

John Lee said during his opening remarks: '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, bridging people, trade, business, education, culture and values across the region, connecting Asia and the world. We are a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for high-quality collaborations worldwide. Our "dual superpower" of connecting and value-adding means Hong Kong is more than a link between capital and projects. We also inject vigour, innovation and sustainability, adding strategic value to everything we do. Hong Kong will continue to drive high-quality development along the Belt and Road.'

Professor Ma said: 'We are proud to celebrate the 10th edition this year. The Summit has become a cornerstone event supporting the Belt and Road Initiative. 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. And this year is no different. Collaboration opportunities once again take centre stage.'

Yan Dong said during his special address: 'The Ministry of Commerce will continue to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with all partners along the Belt and Road. First, we will continue to support Hong Kong in deepening its connectivity with the Mainland and the rest of the world. We will implement the revisions on the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services, which took effect in March this year, further expand mainland China's opening-up in areas such as finance, telecommunications, construction, and tourism, and explore the establishment of a single free-trade zone among mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Second, we will support Hong Kong in building functional platforms and in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre, enabling it to play a bridging role in facilitating connectivity in infrastructure, trade and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative, and expanding trade scale with participating countries.'

Li Zhen said during his special address: 'State-owned enterprises stand ready to join hands with all sectors in Hong Kong to explore opportunities and forge a shared future through reinforcing connectivity. We need to seize this Summit as an opportunity to leverage Hong Kong's unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures and its strengths in international communication, and lay a solid foundation for the Belt and Road Initiative'

Xiao Weiming said during his special address: 'We have witnessed Hong Kong's contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative by fully leveraging its role as a financial, trade, and innovation and technology hub. With the continuous expansion of trade cooperation networks among partner countries and the establishment of professional platforms such as Core Climate and the International Organization for Mediation, Hong Kong has achieved two-way development in both domestic and international trade. Hong Kong's future participation in the Belt and Road Initiative will be even more important and promising.'

Sun Chanthol said during his keynote address: 'Over the past decade, Cambodia has achieved remarkable progress with the support from China under the Belt and Road Initiative framework. Together, we have built over 3,000 kilometers of national roads and 16 major bridges, transforming the daily lives of millions of Cambodians. It has boosted tourism, reduced costs and enhanced Cambodian's role as a regional trade hub.'

Policy driving new opportunities, multilateral dialogue fostering collaboration

Amidst global economic uncertainty, how businesses can seize opportunities in times of change has become increasingly important. Following the Opening Session, the 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. The session featured other key government officials, including Anthony Loke, Minister of Transport of Malaysia; Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar; Umid Abidkhadjaev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Uzbekistan; Yerlan Sagnayev, Vice Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan; and Khaled Al Khattaf, CEO of Saudi Investment Promotion Authority of Saudi Arabia. They discussed the latest policies and development opportunities related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and explored ways to enhance multilateral economic cooperation.

On the first day, the Business Plenary themed ASEAN: Unveiling New Opportunities for Growth and Collaboration was hosted by Dr Victor Fung, Chairman of Fung Investment. The session featured distinguished speakers including Zeng Qi, Vice President of CITIC Group Corporation; Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A; Anthony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group. They explored the latest developments and collaborative opportunities in key sectors, including infrastructure, financial investment, digital economy and green energy within the ASEAN region.

The Summit offers numerous opportunities for networking. The Keynote Luncheon, under the theme of Fostering Regional Cooperation through Concrete Business Partnerships, featured a welcome address by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, opening remarks by Chen Liang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Management Committee of China International Capital Corporation Limited, and a keynote speech by Renat Bekturov, Governor, Astana International Financial Center (AIFC). Renat Bekturov said: 'We have initiated the creation of the Turkic Green Finance Council. For this to succeed, finance must be responsible, transparent and forward-looking. 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.'

The Cocktail Reception included special remarks from Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, a welcome address by Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, and opening remarks from Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. The occasion also served as a celebration of the 10th edition of the Summit, marking a significant milestone in fostering international collaboration and connectivity.

This year's new sessions focus on key projects and target markets

Project and business matching is a key component of the Summit, helping to transform the BRI into tangible economic cooperation. This year, the Summit introduced two Signature Belt and Road Projects Sessions aimed at encouraging Hong Kong's professional services and businesses to participate in major infrastructure developments, thereby fostering regional cooperation and economic growth. The first session featured Dr Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office in Thailand, and discussed investment opportunities in the key development areas of the Eastern Economic Corridor. The second session takes place tomorrow and is hosted by Omar Abed, a representative from the New Murabba project in Saudi Arabia, who will share insights on integrating sustainability into urban design and the associated development opportunities.

Tomorrow's Project Investment Session will introduce a new focus session titled Middle East & ASEAN Market Focus, with speakers including Varong Tangpraprutgul, Managing Director of AMATA City Lao Company Limited; Alan E. Wijaya, Chief of Business Development Officer of PT. Jababeka TBK; Dr YT Chin, Founder and CEO of Silicon Connect; Yin Haijie, Chairman of the Board of Jiangsu Luyi Investment Co., Ltd.; Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Business & ICV Development Manager of Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom); Mohammed Alasseri, Chief Operating Officer of Special Integrated Logistics Zone and chaired by James Law, CEO & Founder of Cybertecture, who will explore the potential opportunities in these two key markets. This session aims to provide businesses with targeted investment and collaboration prospects, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a vital hub for the BRI.

Deal-making fosters collaboration, exhibition area connects the global

This year's Summit continues to offer investment and business matching services to forge partnerships. The project investment sessions will showcase more than 300 investment projects. The Belt and Road Deal-Making provides a full range of options, in both physical form on 10-11 September and online on 15-16 September, with more than 800 one-to-one project matching meetings expected to take place.

The Summit features an exhibition area across five distinct zones. ASEAN Zone, a new feature this year to focus on the latest projects across various sectors of the ten member states; the Hong Kong Zone to bring together local service providers, showcasing the outstanding services and business advantages; the Global Investment Zone to present large-scale investment projects and opportunities from different countries; the InnoTech Zone to showcase cutting-edge innovations, AI, digital technologies and solutions from around the world and the Mainland Zone to highlight the latest developments in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy in mainland China.

The 10th Belt and Road Summit is supported by a wide range of partners, including China International Capital Corporation Limited as Strategic Partner, and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited as the Banking Partner. Other supporters include The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited as the Global Connectivity Partner, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited as Cross-border Business Partner, Huatai Securities Co., Ltd. as Innovative Finance Partner, as well as China Mobile International Limited, China Telecom Global Limited and China Unicom Global Limited as Platinum Sponsors.

The 10th Belt and Road Summit

Date 10 - 11 September 2025 (Wednesday - Thursday)
Venue Hall 5B-E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Websites
Belt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en
Programme: https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en/programme
Speaker List: https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en/speaker

Photo Download: http://bit.ly/4nozqyA

The 10th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC, opened today. This year marks the 10th edition of the Summit, themed Collaborate for Change - Shape a Shared Future. The event gathered over 90 key government officials and business leaders from 16 Belt and Road countries and regions, aiming to explore new opportunities for collaboration and create a win-win future

John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks during the Opening Session

Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, delivered welcome remarks during the Opening Session

Yan Dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, gave a special address during the Opening Session

Li Zhen, Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, gave a special address during the Opening Session

Xiao Weiming, Deputy Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China, gave a special address during the Opening Session

Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, delivered a keynote address during the Opening Session

The Policy Dialogue themed Embracing Emerging Opportunities in Times of Economic Uncertainty, hosted by Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, featured key government officials from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, discussing the latest Belt and Road policies and opportunities for multilateral cooperation

The Business Plenary themed ASEAN: Unveiling New Opportunities for Growth and Collaboration explored the latest developments and collaborative opportunities in key sectors, including infrastructure, financial investment, digital economy and green energy within the ASEAN region

The Keynote Luncheon, under the theme of Fostering Regional Cooperation through Concrete Business Partnerships, featured a welcome address by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, opening remarks by Chen Liang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Management Committee of China International Capital Corporation Limited, and a keynote speech by Renat Bekturov, Governor, Astana International Financial Center (AIFC).

The Cocktail Reception included special remarks from Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, a welcome address by Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, and opening remarks from Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

Media Enquiries

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Louise Song Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
Tiffany Leung Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
Fung Wong Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Serena Cheung Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
Jane Cheung Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
Sam Ho Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets.

Source: HKTDC

Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.