Hong Kong Chief Executive Underlines Role As Super-Connector To Global Economy

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) By Bader Al-Bedah
HONG KONG, Sept 10 (KUNA) -- Chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday underlined his city's role as a "super-connector" and "super value-adder" in driving forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
This came in his speech in the opening session of the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, saying that the summit, held under the theme "Collaborate for Change - Shape a Shared Future," brought together over 6,000 government officials, business leaders, and international organizations to mark a decade of collaboration since the first edition in 2016.
He noted that more than 45,000 participants from over 120 countries and regions had attended the summit over the past nine editions, presenting more than 2,800 projects along the BRI. This, he stressed, proved that the summit had become a platform for turning opportunities into action.
Lee revealed that this year's edition will witness the exchange of nine memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements in areas including dispute resolution, customs, anti-corruption, meteorology, and investment promotion. He added that 36 business-to-business deals covering finance, technology, logistics, professional services, and education would also be concluded, with a combined value close to USD one billion.
On trade and investment, Lee pointed out that Hong Kong's external trade with Belt and Road countries exceeded USD 276 billion last year, surged up by 80 percent since 2013, while some 1,400 companies from BRI economies had set up a presence in Hong Kong.
He also highlighted Hong Kong's role as a major source of foreign direct investment into BRI countries, with outward direct investment reaching USD 133 billion in 2023.
He referred to his recent visits to Belt and Road partners, including a joint delegation to Kuwait and Qatar last May, which resulted in numerous agreements, one of which saw a company establishing Hong Kong as its global hub.
Lee further emphasized Hong Kong's competitiveness, noting that the city ranked third globally in the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook and fourth in the latest World Talent Ranking. He also highlighted Hong Kong's leadership in green and sustainable finance, as well as its cultural and educational exchanges with BRI countries.
Concluding his remarks, Lee affirmed Hong Kong's commitment to continue acting as the "ideal Belt and Road hub," bridging China and the world and contributing to high-quality collaboration under the initiative. (pickup previous)
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