The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing on May 14 and 15. The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to attend the Forum on May 14.

     The cross-sectoral delegation will comprise senior officials and representatives from financial and banking sectors, chambers of commerce and professional institutes. They will attend the opening ceremony of the Forum and the high-level conference, as well as the parallel sessions with various specified themes. The Chief Executive will speak at the thematic session on financial connectivity. The list of delegation members is in the Annex.

     The Forum is the most high-level conference to be held by the Mainland since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward some three years ago. Themed "Strengthening International Cooperation and Co-building the 'Belt and Road' for Win-win Development", the Forum will uphold the principles of "wide consultation, joint construction and shared benefits" in promoting the Belt and Road development.

     "Hong Kong is a key link for the Belt and Road. We enjoy the unique dual advantages of 'one country, two systems'. Hong Kong's role as a 'super-connector' under the Belt and Road Initiative will not only help Mainland enterprises to 'go global' but also bring in foreign companies, fully leveraging Hong Kong's competitive advantages to meet the country's requirements," the Chief Executive said.

     "Hong Kong's economy has undergone tremendous growth and transformation over most of the past four decades, due largely to riding on our country's policy of economic reform and opening up. Looking ahead to the next 40 years, we have the Belt and Road Initiative as a new engine to further drive our economic and social development," he added.

     To further promote work for the Belt and Road Initiative, the Government today (May 8) launched a short video and a compendium to introduce to the public Hong Kong's strengths and contributions made in participating in the Belt and Road's development. The compendium also gives examples of projects, investment engaged and professional services provided by Hong Kong-based companies in the Belt and Road regions and other countries.

     The public can view the Belt and Road short video and compendium at the new Belt and Road website (www.beltandroad.gov.hk) launched today.

Ends/Monday, May 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:05

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