Hong Kong a ‘2-way springboard’ between mainland China and world: John Lee

Hong Kong will continue to serve as a gateway linking belt and road economies with mainland China and global markets, the chief executive has said, underscoring the city’s role in bringing together capital, talent and businesses to advance the national initiative.

Speaking at the opening of the annual Belt and Road Summit on Wednesday, John Lee Ka-chiu said more than 60 government and business agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) would be signed during the event, with the total value of projects and deals exceeding US$3 billion.

“In a world struggling with unprecedented change and geopolitical fragmentation, connectivity, cooperation, and consensus are essential. That’s precisely what the Belt and Road Summit offers,” he said.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is not a map of the past, but a shared blueprint for the future. And Hong Kong is where we realise that future: where East meets West, where capital, talent, businesses and opportunities converge.”

Lee described Hong Kong as a “two-way springboard” for mainland enterprises seeking to expand overseas and international companies looking to access the mainland market.

He said the city would serve as a global gateway for belt and road businesses to raise capital, citing recent examples such as Kazakhstan’s national railway company applying to list on the city’s stock exchange.