The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully after two days, attracting over 6,200 political and business leaders from more than 70 countries and regions. The event showcased over 300 investment projects, arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, and facilitated over 60 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This year’s Summit focused on business globalisation, new market opportunities, and cross-regional cooperation, deepening Hong Kong’s economic and trade ties with emerging markets such as ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
A key highlight was the introduction of the GoGlobal Chapter, designed to help Chinese Mainland enterprises expand overseas. It included thematic sessions, the GoGlobal Connect Zone, roundtable discussions, and a business study mission. During the Summit, Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. signed an MoU with Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited to collaborate on going global. Chen Li, President of Shaanxi TIRAIN, said, “Given the current global economic climate, going global is a natural choice for us. We have entered into an agreement with Deloitte precisely because we value their expertise in global tax, legal and labour consultancy.”
The Summit also introduced a dedicated Central Asia Chapter and Central Asia Zone to build on Chief Executive John Lee’s visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June. Projects such as Kazakhstan’s Alatau City and Data Center Valley attracted interest. Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, noted, “Kazakhstan has a strong aerospace foundation… We are developing a satellite system and digital platform for agriculture, land use, emergency response, and resource management.”
Middle East elements were strengthened through the Middle East Chapter, Middle East Zone, and thematic sessions. The Business Plenary focused on Middle East and African markets, with speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Nigeria. Additionally, the Project Investment Session invited representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and South Africa to share developments.
At the Signature Projects Session, Enver Iskurt, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkiye, introduced the Ankara-Istanbul super speed railway project, stating, “Hong Kong-based investors, financial institutions, and engineering firms can play an active role at every stage of our projects.”
The Summit facilitated project matchmaking through over 300 investment projects valued at more than US$5.4 billion. Among the MoUs was one involving Jabal Asset Management LLC of Oman. Issa Al Battashi, Managing Director, commented, “We feel that the Summit as a whole is an opportunity to connect capital, institutions and retail investors across these markets.”
Exhibition Zones featured more than 120 exhibitors, including new zones like the University Zone, GreenTech Zone, and GoGlobal Connect Zone. As a new highlight of Belt and Road Week, the ASEAN Market Day attracted 340 SMEs, offering consultation sessions with HKTDC’s ASEAN offices and consulates. The HKTDC plans further thematic events, including GoGBA Development Day, African Market Day, and Middle East Market Day.
Although the Summit concluded, follow-up activities continue. The Belt and Road Deal-Making will extend to 14-15 September online, and the Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable 2026 brings together representatives from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and international chambers of commerce. For more information, visit the HKTDC media room at https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en.
