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The Sixth 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 6th Belt and Road Summit was held under the fully virtual mode on 1 and 2 September 2021. Themed “Driving Growth Through Fostering Regional and International Trade”, the two-day event was signed up by over 6 000 government officials, entrepreneurs and professionals from over 80 countries and regions. More than 770 one-on-one business matching meeting sessions for some 260 projects were arranged. The Summit also staged a virtual exhibition with nearly 50 Hong Kong companies showcasing their businesses ranging from banking and finance, infrastructural development, innovation and technology, professional services, to transport and logistics services.

Taking the opportunity, on 1 September 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce on enhancing co-operation in promoting development of the overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones.

Summit Highlights

The programme of the Summit includes -

  1. Opening Session;
  2. Policy Dialogue Session – Promoting Multilateral Co-operation along the Belt and Road;
  3. Business Plenary Sessions and Panel Discussion
    • Belt and Road and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity;
    • Connecting the Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area (GBA) through Hong Kong (GBA track);
    • Capital Raising and Financing for Belt and Road and GBA through Hong Kong (GBA track);
  4. Eight Thematic Breakout Sessions (three under the GBA track); and
  5. Four Project Pitching Sessions.

(1) Opening Session

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

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum, also delivered his keynote address at the Opening Session.

Mr Gao Yunlong, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, delivered an opening keynote speech.

In addition, the Minister of Commerce, Mr Wang Wentao; the Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Mr Hao Peng; Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Ning Jizhe; and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Liu Guangyuan; gave special addresses at the Opening Session.

(2) Policy Dialogue Session – Promoting Multilateral Co-operation along the Belt and Road

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, chaired the Policy Dialogue session titled “Promoting Multilateral Co-operation along the Belt and Road”. He was joined by the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Dato’ Lim Jock Hoi; the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei Darussalam, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew Bin Abdullah; the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Mr Pan Sorasak; the Vice Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Dr Jerry Sambuaga; the Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, Mr Ramon Lopez; the Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Singapore, Dr Tan See Leng; the Vice Minister for Commerce of Thailand, Dr Sansern Samalapa; and the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

(3) Business Plenary Sessions and Panel Discussion

Belt and Road and RCEP: Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity

Mr Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, addressed the audience at the Business Plenary session, highlighting the common grounds between the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) and RCEP, as well as how they can complement each other. Hosted by Mr Victor Chu, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Eastern Investment Group, the panel discussed and provided insights on how the RCEP and B&RI can contribute to growth, co-operation and development as the global economy begins to show signs of recovery following the pandemic.

Connecting the Belt and Road & GBA through Hong Kong (GBA track)

Chaired by Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of Fung Group, the panel of renowned business leaders from the GBA and overseas discussed Hong Kong’s role in unlocking unlimited opportunities for this new era of crossborder collaboration, and the GBA’s potential for extending its influence regionally and along the Belt and Road.

Capital Raising and Financing for Belt and Road and GBA through Hong Kong (GBA track)

At the panel discussion chaired by Professor KC Chan, Chairman of WeLab Bank, elite bankers and financiers discussed how investors and businesses can leverage Hong Kong as Asia’s most dynamic and vibrant capital market and peerless financial services to facilitate burgeoning economic development and business opportunity under the B&RI, GBA and beyond.

(4) Thematic Breakout Sessions

  1. RCEP: Fostering Post-pandemic International Infrastructure Co-operation along the Belt and Road

    Co-organised with the China International Contractors Association, this session gathered a panel of industry players to share their insights on capitalising Hong Kong’s advantages in internationalisation and professionalism to fully avail itself of the opportunities brought about by RCEP and facilitate the high-quality and sustainable development of the B&RI.

  2. Fostering Trade and Resolving Disputes in the Post-COVID Era – Hong Kong’s Legal and Dispute Resolution Services

    Co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, Ms Teresa Cheng, the Secretary for Justice, delivered welcome remarks at this breakout session. Prominent speakers from the legal sector exchanged views on how to make the best use of Hong Kong’s unparalleled legal and dispute resolution services for businesses engaging in international trade, investments and other Belt and Road projects.

  3. “Greener” Bay Area: through the Sustainable Finance Lens (GBA track)

    Co-organised with the Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the session gathered a number of industry leaders to delve into sustainable development and related financing in the GBA, with a focus on green supply chain and infrastructure financing. The panel, moderated by Mr Darryl Chan, Deputy Director of IFFO, discussed in-depth the landscape, opportunities, as well as upcoming trends of sustainable development and financing in the GBA.

  4. Belt and Road Opportunities for SMEs

    Supported by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) and chaired by Mr George Leung, Chief Executive Officer of HKGCC, this session gathered a number of Belt and Road forerunners and SME pioneers to share their first-hand experiences, including ways on remaining resilient to ride out the pandemic storm.

  5. Supporting the National Strategy of Dual Circulation through Captives and Reinsurance

    Co-organised with the Insurance Authority (IA), this session led by the Panel Chair, Mr Simon Lam, Executive Director (General Business) of the IA, discussed how Hong Kong can leverage its advantages as a captive domicile and reinsurance hub to consolidate its strategic position under the 14th Five-Year Plan as the risk management centre for Mainland enterprises “going global”. Key issues for discussion included: how to enhance the awareness of enterprises of risk management to cope with the new risk landscape caused by the pandemic and geopolitical risks; the importance of adopting a proactive approach and control in risk management; and optimising co-operation between the Hong Kong, Mainland and international insurance markets.

  6. Connecting the Belt and Road through Cultural and Business Collaboration

    Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as a hub for Belt and Road cultural exchange. This session chaired by Mr Roger Garcia, Advisor of Asian Film Awards Academy, gathered renowned leaders from art, culture, design and entertainment sectors along the Belt and Road to explore the enormous business potential arising from cultural exchange.

  7. Embracing Digital Technology in the GBA for the Post-pandemic Era (GBA track)

    Co-organised with the Hong Kong Cyberport, a renowned industry leader and a representative of an established institution, as well as two entrepreneurs of the community start-ups were invited to attend a fireside chat and a panel discussion themed “Empowering Smart City Transformation Across GBA in the Post-pandemic Era” and “How Digital Technologies are Enabling Innovation for the New Normal” respectively. These panels discussed how to seize new opportunities in the post-pandemic era and inject new impetus into the Hong Kong economy by leveraging the booming business opportunities brought about by the smart city development within the GBA.

  8. Hong Kong: A Two-way Gateway for Start-ups and Young Business Leaders (GBA track)

    Organised in association with InvestHK, entrepreneurs of start-ups and young business leaders gathered at the session to discuss and share their experiences on how to leverage Hong Kong’s competitive advantages as a platform to pioneer new, lesser-known emerging markets along the Belt and Road and beyond.

(6) Project Pitching Sessions

A total of four project pitching sessions were held online for project owners and interested participants to explore collaboration opportunities on such sectors as energy, natural resources and public utilities; innovation and technology; urban development; and transport and logistics infrastructure.