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 of intensive deal-making and dialogue. The event attracted more than 6,200 political and business leaders from over 70 countries and regions, showcased over 300 investment projects, arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, and facilitated more than 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. The event underscored Hong Kong's unique role as a super connector and super value-adder.
In response to the accelerating pace of Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, the Summit introduced the GoGlobal Chapter for the first time. The Chapter included thematic sessions, the GoGlobal Connect Zone, roundtable discussions, and the GoGlobal Business Study Mission, providing a one-stop platform for enterprises looking to explore international markets. During the Summit, Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. and Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited signed a MoU 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."
Building on the outcomes of Chief Executive John Lee's visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June this year, the Summit introduced a dedicated Central Asia Chapter and Central Asia Zone. Key development projects such as Kazakhstan's Alatau City and Data Center Valley attracted participants' 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."
The Summit further strengthened its Middle East elements through the Middle East Chapter, Middle East Zone, and multiple thematic sessions. The Business Plenary focused on the Middle East and African markets, with speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Nigeria sharing insights. Additionally, the Project Investment Session invited representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and South Africa to share developments in their key industries.
At the Signature Projects Session, Enver Iskurt, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkiye, introduced the large-scale Ankara-Istanbul super speed railway infrastructure project, stating: "Turkey is a secure hub that has continued to pursue its projects with determination despite global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. Hong Kong-based investors, financial institutions, and engineering firms can play an active role at every stage of our projects."
Through the Project Investment Session, the Belt and Road Deal-Making, and Exhibition Zones, this year's Summit showcased over 300 investment projects with a total value exceeding US$5.4 billion. Among the MoUs facilitated was one involving Jabal Asset Management LLC of Oman. Issa Al Battashi, Managing Director and Executive Board Member, said, "We feel that the Summit as a whole is an opportunity to connect capital, institutions and retail investors across these markets."
The Exhibition Zones featured more than 120 exhibitors, including new zones such as 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, with dedicated consultation sessions. The HKTDC will launch more thematic promotion activities for high-potential markets, including GoGBA Development Day, African Market Day, and Middle East Market Day.
Although the Summit has concluded, cooperation negotiations will continue. The Belt and Road Deal-Making will be extended to 14-15 September in an online format, and the Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable 2026 will bring together representatives from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and international chambers of commerce. For more information, visit the HKTDC Media Room or HKTDC's website.
