The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from April 25 to 27. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead a high-level Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to participate at the Forum.
 
     Under the theme of "Belt and Road Cooperation, Shaping a Brighter Shared Future", the Forum aims to bring about high quality Belt and Road cooperation. Development policy co-ordination, infrastructure connectivity, sustainable development and other topics of common interest will be discussed. Twelve thematic forums will be held, focusing on policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, think-tank exchanges, clean silk road, digital silk road, green silk road, silk road of innovation, regional cooperation, and economic and trade cooperation zone promotion.
 
     The Hong Kong delegation comprises senior government officials and members from various sectors of Hong Kong, including the political, business, professional services, innovation and technology sectors, and academia as well as public and community services. They will participate at thematic forums and the CEO conference on April 25, and the opening ceremony and high-level meeting on April 26.
 
     Official members of the delegation include the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip. The delegation list is available in the Annex.
 
     "The Government attaches great importance to the work in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong's participation at the Forum will enhance our role and position as the prime platform and a key link for the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as foster our integration into the overall development of the country," Mrs Lam said.
 
     "I look forward to our delegates sharing with other Forum participants and the international community on Hong Kong's contributions in respect of promoting global connectivity and win-win development, and having proactive interactive exchanges on Hong Kong's work in the Belt and Road," she added.
 
     Mrs Lam will deliver the opening keynote address at the thematic forums on financial connectivity and regional cooperation, with the latter dedicated session on Hong Kong themed "Belt and Road: Hong Kong IN". The session will be moderated by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mrs Laura M Cha. Six Hong Kong delegates, from the finance, legal and dispute resolution, business and commerce, risk management, infrastructure and cultural sectors, will have an in-depth discussions on how Belt and Road related countries and regions may leverage Hong Kong's professional services and international connections in participating in the Initiative and pursuing regional co-operation.

Ends/Thursday, April 18, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:53

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