Hong Kong hosts 2nd forum on Belt and Road Initiative

The second forum on the Belt and Road Initiative co-organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) was held Monday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said during a keynote speech that as an international metropolis and China's best-connected city, Hong Kong can and will make immense contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative.

The HKSAR government has engaged in earnest discussions with the central government on a new cooperation agreement that would give full play to Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems" in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, she said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Ning Jizhe, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the NDRC will support Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative as it presents historic opportunities to Hong Kong.

Key supporting measures include establishing cooperation platform, facilitating financial integration and improving professional service, he said.

Under the theme "From Vision to Action," the forum has attracted over 2,600 senior government officials and business leaders from about 50 countries and areas along the Belt and Road, according to the HKTDC.

Dialogue with policymakers, a series of panel discussions covering financing, dispute settlement and entrepreneurship as well as business matching meetings were also arranged during the forum.

This is the second time for such a forum held in Hong Kong. The first one hosted by the HKSAR government was held in May 2016.