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Belt and Road Forum “Brave New World” held today in Hong Kong

2023-04-14

Co-organised by Silk Road Economic Development Research Center, Maritime Silk Road Society and One Belt One Road Research Institute of the Hong Kong Chu Hai College, the Belt and Road 10th Anniversary Forum themed “Brave New World” was held on 14th April in Hong Kong. The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Paul Chan Mo-po GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Co-chair of Maritime Silk Road Society, Mrs. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee GBM, GBS, JP and Mr. Bernard Charnwut Chan GBM, GBS, JP on behalf of main organisers, Chairman of Silk Road Economic Development Research Center, Mr. Joseph Chan Nap-kee delivered welcoming remarks and closing remarks respectively. Former Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Norov, former Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Advisor for Foreign Affairs, Office of Thailand’s Eastern Corridor Special Development Zone, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow and former Spokesman to President Rodrigo Duterte, Mr. Herminio “Harry” Lopez Roque Jr. delivered Keynote Speech. The Director-General, Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) of the Government of the HKSAR, Mr. Philip Yung, and H.E. Mr. Bilal Ahmad Butt, Consul General of Pakistan and H.E. Mr. Peyami Kalyoncu, Consul General of Türkiye attended the “Partnership Dialogue - Brave New World” session.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Paul Chan Mo-po delivered an opening speech, in which he noted that Hong Kong is a participant, contributor, and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, Hong Kong serves as a key link, a central connector, between our nation and the world. We are, as well, a functional platform for the Belt and Road. Hong Kong as the world's largest offshore Renminbi centre, and as a trusted international financial centre, stands ready to play an active role in the process, thus also helping with the internationalisation of Renminbi. We are striving to enrich our RMB ecosystem and infrastructure and to roll out more products and risk management tools so that we will be able to address the investment needs of countries.

Mrs. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee on behalf of the main organisers expressed her gratitude to all participants of the forum. In her speech, she noted that since the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to promote cooperation among countries and territories along the Silk Road and the Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road, there have been marvelous achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative throughout the decade. According to the latest statistics, more than 150 countries – accounting for two-thirds of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP – have signed on to the agreements to cooperate in the realisation of the vision of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr. Joseph Chan in his closing remarks expressed that the Belt and Road Initiative is not just about economics but also cultural exchange and connectivity of people. We share and enjoy together fruitful achievement amongst our Belt and Road participants. The Belt and Road development is long and winding like any project but slowly and surely we will achieve what we had planned.

Former Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Norov said in his keynote speech that Central Asia is a key region of the Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative thus for more than thirty years, the relationship between the countries of Central Asia and China have received a breakthrough development, reaching the level of strategic partnership. The joint construction of the Belt and Road requires a peaceful and stable environment partnering is based on dialect and friendship, in this area of responsibility, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation acts as a governor of peace and stability.

Former Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow noted in his keynote speech that the modern airport in Silk Road, brings in millions of tourists to visit and creates jobs and revenues for the Cambodian people. There is the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed train reducing traffic congestion and more importantly carbon emission. Infrastructure is at the heart of economic development, enhancing connectivity and trade and investment economic integration and greater prosperity for all.

Former Spokesman to President Rodrigo Duterte, Mr. Herminio “Harry” Lopez Roque Jr. noted in his keynote speech that after the state visit of former President Rodrigo Duterte to China, he proposed the flagship infrastructure programme with 75 infrastructure projects which identifies a big important part of the BRI and of which about half are earmarked for Chinese loans, grants or investments.

In the panel sessions, 10 extraordinary young people  (Mr. Stephen Law, Mr. Mark Mak, Mr. Furuzonfar Zehni, Ms. Ferheen Mahomed, Dr. Johnny Hon, Ms. Tai On Na, Diana, Ms. Sadia Manzoor, Ms. Olga Bogaichuk, Mr. Nick Goldup, Mr. Edward Liu) from different countries along the Belt and Road engaged in the discussion about the future development of the Belt and Road and how Hong Kong can attract talent from the Belt and Road in the talent competition and etc.

Mr. Lam Kwong-siu, GBS, SBS, Chair of the Board of Governors of Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Professor Chen Zhi, President of the Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Professor Thomas Chan Man-hung, Director of One Belt One Road Research Center and Consuls General of United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc., over 20 Consuls General and nearly 300 people attended the forum.