EVENTS
Event Highlights
Professor Lee Chack Fan Presented on “12 Years of Implementation: the B&R Initiative’s Accomplishments And Challenges”
2025-07-12
The Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) organized the “12 Years of Implementation: the B&R Initiative’s Accomplishments And Challenges” seminar on 12 July, with Professor Lee Chack Fan, Director of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong and Governor of Hong Kong Chu Hai College as the speaker. The event was supported by the HKU Graduates Association.
During her welcoming remarks, Mrs Regina Ip, Co-Chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society, noted that the event marked the 12th anniversary of the “Belt and Road Initiative” as well as one of the key projects of MSRS to commemorate its 10th anniversary. She said that Professor Lee had been contributing towards the development of the BRI and his interdisciplinary vision had provided insights for the implementation of the Initiative. To thank Professor Lee for his support of MSRS by taking up the role of Honorary Advisor since its inception, Mrs Ip presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Professor Lee started his presentation with an introduction on Five Connectivities which encompass intergovernmental policy communication; inter-regional infrastructure connectivity; trade facilitation; financial integration and people to people bondage. In terms of infrastructure, Professor Lee cited the China-Laos Railway as an example of the BRI, which not only promotes economic cooperation and connectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries, but also propels the economic development of Laos, promoting investment, tourism and trade, and upgrading the local infrastructure. He also cited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Gwadar Port and a number of hydropower, thermal and solar power stations in different regions as examples of infrastructure projects.
In terms of regional development, Professor Lee mentioned that Africa is an emerging continent with a growing population. It is expected that by 2050, one quarter of the world's population will be in Africa, and more than one third of the world's youth population will also be in Africa. The connection between China and Africa is getting closer and closer, and the cooperation is seamless. China has also invested a lot of resources and funds in Africa to match Africa's future rapid economic growth.
Professor Lee pointed out that the "Belt and Road" initiative has encountered hundreds of difficulties and challenges in the implementation, including local political stability and security factors, geopolitics, and the interests of countries along the route. Professor Lee concluded that the future of the BRI co-operation projects is bright as they can really help the countries along the silk route.
