Editorial | Belt and road forum a chance to plan for the path that lies ahead
- Representatives from more than 100 countries and regions – including Hong Kong – will gather in Beijing this week to take stock of China-led infrastructure initiative to connect the world
Tuesday’s opening of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing will be a chance to reflect on the future as well as the decade invested in the infrastructure enterprise to build a global China-centred trading initiative.
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent across the region since President Xi Jinping announced the project in 2013.
More than 150 countries have signed cooperation agreements with China under the initiative, which has improved the overall well-being of people by building everything from railways, roads and ports to power stations, schools and hospitals.
The two-day forum was last held in 2019. This year’s event will welcome representatives of at least 130 countries and 30 global organisations.
Hong Kong will have a strong role at the event, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu leading a 70-strong delegation of political and business heavyweights.
The delegation will showcase a range of strengths ranging from professional services to green development. Lee on Friday said they would share with the international community Hong Kong’s “unique advantage of enjoying strong support from the country and being closely connected to the world”.