Inaugural Belt and Road Summit Held in Hong Kong

Press Release18 May 2016

Inaugural Belt and Road Summit Held in Hong Kong

Chinese State Leader Reinforces Hong Kong’s Unique Advantages for Developing the Belt and Road Initiative

18 May 2016 – Hong Kong hosted the inaugural Belt and Road Summit today (18 May) to explore business opportunities presented to the world by the Belt and Road Initiative. Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, more than 40 senior government ministers from countries located along the Belt and Road routes as well as business leaders from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, ASEAN and other regions spoke at the summit, sharing insights from a wide range of perspectives. The high-level event welcomed more than 2,400 participants, including investors, project owners and services professionals.

The Belt and Road Summit was organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG), supported by the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce, and the People’s Bank of China, in association with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

HKTDC Chairman Vincent HS Lo and Chief Executive of Hong Kong the Hon CY Leung spoke at the opening ceremony. Zhang Dejiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, delivered a keynote speech in the morning session. He shared insights into the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages and pivotal role in the Initiative.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr Lo said, “The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has been promoting our city as an integrator that brings together governments, capital and expertise to maximise Belt and Road opportunities. In addition to launching a resource portal, supporting today’s summit is another milestone in our work.”

Key issues cover policy coordination, sector cooperation and ASEAN development
The summit featured three panel sessions. The first panel, chaired by Laura Cha, Chairman of Hong Kong’s Financial Services Development Council, analysed investment opportunities from the policymakers’ perspective. Speakers included HE Eng Sultan Saeed AlMansoori, Minister of Economy, the United Arab Emirates; HE Ong Ka Chuan, Second Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Franky Sibarani, Chairman, Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM); and the Hon Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, HKSAR. The panellists shared their views on how governments can develop their own policies and work with other countries to facilitate cooperation.

Enhancing cross-sector connectivity among economies along the Belt and Road is a major goal of the Initiative. Addressing this topic, the second panel presented influential business leaders offering their insights into closer cooperation between different sectors within the Belt and Road framework. Speakers included Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman, Fung Group (Panel Chair); HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DP World; Douglas Flint, Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc; Dr DJ Pandian, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Lin Jingzhen, Deputy Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; and Professor the Hon KC Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, HKSAR.

The final panel examined the importance of closer business partnerships and the crucial role of ASEAN in the Belt and Road Initiative. The panel was chaired by Kevin Sneader, Chairman, Asia, McKinsey & Company and featured ASEAN business elites, including, Narong Chearavanont, Vice Chairman, Charoen Pokphand Group; Suryo Bambang Sulisto, Chairman, KADIN Indonesia Honorary Council and Founder, PT Satmarindo Group; Teresita Sy-Coson, Vice Chairperson, SM Investments Corporation; Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, Managing Director, YTL Group; and Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman, Sunwah Group.

Silk Road Fund and investment opportunities
During the Keynote Luncheon, the Hon John Tsang, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivered opening remarks and Han Weiqiang, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of China International Capital Corporation Limited, introduced the keynote speaker Jin Qi, Chairman of the Silk Road Fund. The US$40 billion Silk Road Fund was established to help finance the Belt and Road Initiative, mainly in infrastructure and resources, as well as projects related to industrial and financial cooperation. Ms Jin said that Hong Kong can facilitate communications and connections among Belt and Road countries, and can provide an ideal platform for financing and asset management.

At the Dialogue on “The Way Forward”, HKTDC Chairman Mr Lo shared the stage with Wang Zhan, President of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and Executive Vice President of Yangtze Council. The dialogue delved more deeply into the next steps for the Initiative and explored how businesses can plan strategically to prepare themselves for the Belt and Road opportunities ahead. During the Dialogue, Chen Dongsheng, President of China Entrepreneurs Forum announced the setting up of a Belt and Road fund in Hong Kong to capitalise on the opportunities.

Tangible steps towards marketising the Belt and Road
Apart from insights and knowledge, the summit offered opportunities for effective networking and business matching through its Business Matching Workshops, exhibition and infrastructure display while a side-trip to some of the mainland’s Free Trade Zones is scheduled tomorrow. The workshops, under the themes of infrastructure, urbanisation and utilities, gathered investors, project owners and services professionals to build business partnerships through networking and business matching. An exhibition was also staged, with 27 Hong Kong services providers showcasing their expertise in banking and financial services, infrastructural development and professional services. At the Global Investment Zone, 10 countries introduced their investment projects to international investors.

In collaboration with the Association of Architectural Practices (AAP) and Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong (ACEHK), the HKTDC mounted a signature display of around 145 infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, showcasing the city’s infrastructure and real estate-related services.

Tomorrow (19 May), the HKTDC will organise a full-day business trip to Shenzhen and Qianhai for participants to learn about the latest plans and developments for these Free Trade Zones on the mainland. The Qianhai-Shekou Area in Shenzhen is slated to play a crucial role under the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a strategic platform for cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in a range of professional services.

The Belt and Road Summit received valuable support from more than 30 global business leaders who served as the event’s honorary advisors. The event also featured China International Capital Corporation Limited as Strategic Partner and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited as Diamond Sponsor.

Related Websites:
Belt and Road Summit﹕www.beltandroadsummit.hk
Belt and Road Portal﹕www.beltandroad.hk

Watch the Summit on: http://webcast.info.gov.hk/revamp/eng/index.html

$Description: E:\Selected\2. Opening Ceremony\low\ZEH_5734.JPG$				Zhang Dejiang (centre), Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China joins the Hon CY Leung (sixth from left), Chief Executive of the HKSAR and the Hon CH Tung (sixth from right), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the opening of the Belt and Road Summit
$Description: E:\Selected\low\BnR Summit_Floor.JPG$ $Description: C:\Users\user\Desktop\BnR Summit_floor1.JPG$				Hong Kong, with government and business leaders examining the diverse opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. The summit attracted more than 2,400 participants
$Description: E:\Selected\3. Keynote Speech\Low res\ZEH_5768.JPG$				Zhang Dejiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, delivers a keynote speech at the summit
$Description: E:\Selected\1. Opening session\Low res\CY Leung.JPG$				The Hon CY Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR delivers opening remarks at the Belt and Road Summit
$Description: E:\Selected\1. Opening session\Low res\ZEH_5596.JPG$		$Description: E:\Selected\low\Dialogue.JPG$		Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, welcomes participants to the Belt and Road Summit. Mr Lo later hosted the Dialogue on “The Way Forward”, where he exchanged ideas with Wang Zhan, President of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and Executive Vice President of Yangtze Council
$Description: E:\Selected\low\Jin Qi.JPG$	$Description: E:\Selected\low\John Tsang.JPG$			Left: Jin Qi, Chairman of the Silk Road Fund, addresses the audience during her Keynote Luncheon speech Right: The Hon John Tsang, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR delivers opening remarks at the Keynote Luncheon
Speakers at the Belt and Road Summit included more than 20 senior government ministers from countries located along the Belt and Road routes as well as business leaders from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, ASEAN and other regions:
$Description: E:\Selected\low\HE Eng Sultan Saeed AlMansoori.JPG$			$Description: E:\Selected\low\HE Ong Ka Chuan.JPG$		$Description: E:\Selected\low\Franky Sibarani.JPG$
HE Eng Sultan Saeed AlMansoori Minister of Economy, United Arab Emirates			HE Ong Ka Chuan Second Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia		Franky Sibarani Chairman, Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM)
$Description: E:\Selected\low\Douglas Flint.JPG$			$Description: E:\Selected\low\Dr DJ Pandian.JPG$		$Description: E:\Selected\low\Narong Chearavanont.JPG$
Douglas Flint, Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc			Dr DJ Pandian Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank		Narong Chearavanont Vice Chairman, Charoen Pokphand Group
$Description: E:\Selected\low\Exhibition_1 (1).JPG$ $Description: E:\Selected\low\Exhibition_2.JPG$			An exhibition staged alongside the main summit features 27 services providers from Hong Kong showcasing their expertise in banking and financial services, infrastructural development and professional services. At the Global Investment Zone, 10 countries introduced their investment projects to international investors

Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Nick Waters Tel: (852) 2584 4517 Email: nick.waters@hktdc.org

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.