Chairman's Message - 帶路新十年： 深耕中亞 佈局東盟
The Belt and Road Summit has entered its second decade, and the scope of cooperation along its routes continues to expand. CGCC will continue to collaborate with various sectors, leveraging Hong Kong's strengths to deepen its participation and foster shared development.
Earlier this month, I was invited to participate in the 11th Belt and Road Summit, where I engaged in in-depth discussions with political and business leaders from numerous the Belt and Road (B&R) countries, including those from ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East. In the face of a complex and ever-changing global political and economic landscape, deepening regional economic and trade cooperation, particularly with the rapidly growing ASEAN economies and the strategically vital Central Asian region as a Eurasian hub, has become a crucial entry point for aligning with the B&R market's development. How Hong Kong can precisely position itself and actively participate is a question we must ponder deeply.
Unlocking Growth in Central Asia & ASEAN
The B&R Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, has since attracted active participation from numerous countries and international organizations worldwide, steadily expanding its influence and weaving an increasingly dense network of trade and economic ties. Among these, the Central Asian and ASEAN markets have shown particularly impressive performance. In 2024, China's total trade with the five Central Asian countries reached USD94.8 billion, an increase of nearly 90% over ten years. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, anticipated to be completed by 2031, will become the shortest land route connecting China to the Middle East and Europe. ASEAN, Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner, saw bilateral trade reach HKD1,668.5 billion last year, accounting for over 15% of Hong Kong's total global merchandise trade, with an average annual growth of 7.6% over the past five years.
In response to the immense market opportunities presented by regional cooperation, various sectors in Hong Kong have been actively working to translate potential into tangible results. The “B&R Summit" organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a prime example, having attracted over 45,000 guests from more than 120 countries and regions over the past decade, promoting over 2,800 projects. CGCC has also pursued multiple avenues: recently, we conducted visits to Cambodia and Malaysia, expanding the scope of cooperation from traditional trade to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy. Earlier this year, I had the honor of meeting with the President of Kazakhstan to exchange ideas on cooperation in finance, energy, and digitalization. CGCC also continues to foster regional economic and trade ties through signing MoU, facilitating business matching, organizing overseas visits, and promoting joint ventures by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) business community, combining the Greater Bay Area 's industrial chain with the global network of Chinese entrepreneurs.
Building on CIO 2.0 Advantages
Traditionally, we often speak of Hong Kong's crucial role as a "super-connector." However, today, we should re-examine Hong Kong's positioning from the perspective of a "super value-adder" or even a "super partner" – one that goes beyond mere matchmaking to deep involvement throughout the entire project lifecycle. Hong Kong's unique value lies in leveraging its C.I.O. 2.0 functions: as a "Connector," linking mainland China with ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East, and RCEP economies; as an "Investor," precisely matching financing needs with capital and green bonds; and as an "Operator," replicating its operational expertise along the B&R, from MTR's management of London and Sydney subways to the Airport Authority's operation of overseas airports.
Beyond deepening regional economic and trade cooperation, strengthening "people-to-people bonds" is also a critical pillar for advancing B&R development. In this regard, collaboration between the government and business sectors has consistently played a key role: the HKSAR Government's B&R Scholarship and youth exchange programs continue to attract students from B&R countries to study in Hong Kong, while also allowing local youth to experience Silk Road cultures firsthand. Since 2019, CGCC has also allocated over HKD4.5 million to support outstanding Myanmar students pursuing university education in Hong Kong. These cultural exchanges not only foster mutual understanding but also cultivate talent for the business community who are familiar with the market rules and cultures of both regions, serving as vital bridges for future regional economic and trade cooperation.
Creating Pathways to Connection
President Xi recently delivered an important speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)'s 25th anniversary summit in Kyrgyzstan, clearly stating that consolidating traditional cooperation, such as connectivity, and expanding into new areas like the digital economy and green industries, will be prioritized. He also proposed establishing an international artificial intelligence application cooperation center for SCO member states, advancing multiple energy and technology cooperation projects, and building platforms for deeper educational and cultural interactions. These pragmatic proposals are highly consistent with the goals of high-quality development under the B&R Initiative, injecting new impetus into the construction of a "Digital Silk Road" and a "Green Silk Road", and further broadening the scope for B&R economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people connectivity.
Hong Kong's unique value in participating in the B&R Initiative lies in its integration of international professional services, an open legal system, a diverse cultural heritage, and a profound understanding of both the mainland Chinese and international markets. From project services and talent cultivation to the alignment of rules and standards, Hong Kong can create distinct advantages at every stage. CGCC will continue to work hand-in-hand with all sectors, harnessing the power of high-quality development, leveraging Hong Kong's strengths, deepening its participation in the B&R construction, and strengthening interactions with mainland and regional partners to explore new opportunities for cooperative development under the new circumstances.
