Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang delivers a keynote speech via video during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The two-day Belt and Road Summit began in Hong Kong on Wednesday, drawing nearly 6,000 people from various countries and regions, together with high-level government representatives from at least 10 countries and approximately 100 delegations, making it the largest gala since the establishment of the annual event in 2016. 

During the summit, around 20 memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed. 

READ MORE: Full text of speech by CE at 8th Belt and Road Summit

Andy Chong and Calvin Ng of China Daily took the photos of the event.

Chairman of Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka Supun S Pathirage (left) with Samuel Chui Ho-Kwong, Director of Environmental Protection of Hong Kong (right), after signing a memorandum of understanding as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu looks on, at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG/ CHINA DAILY)

CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation Hadi Badri (left) and Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan Ho-lim (right) with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu after signing a memorandum of understanding at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG/ CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu delivers opening remarks to inaugurate the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG/ CHINA DAILY)

Zheng Yanxiong, the deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, speaks during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Chinese Vice-Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Guo Tingting delivers a speech during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Vice-Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) Gou Ping speaks during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Deputy Secretary-General of the National Development and Reform Commission Xiao Weiming speaks at the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev delivers a keynote speech during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Indonesia's Special Staff to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Affandi Lukman delivers a keynote speech during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council Peter Lam Kin-ngok delivers a welcome speech during the opening session of the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu delivers a speech during "Policy Dialogue I: Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East" at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat speaks during "Policy Dialogue I: Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East" at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Saudi Arabia's Advisor in the General Secretariat of the Councll of Ministers H.E. Fahd bin Abdulmohsan Al-Rasheed speaks during "Policy Dialogue I: Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East" at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri speaks during "Policy Dialogue I: Tapping into the Potential of the Middle East" at the Belt and Road Summit 2023 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 13, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

People pose with an installation that reads "Belt and Road" during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Staff members of China Daily introduce the newspaper to visitors at a booth during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

A booth of newspaper China Daily is seen during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Staff members of China Daily introduce the newspaper to visitors at a booth during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The books "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" are displayed at a booth during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

People walk at the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

People walk past a booth of China Electronics Corporation during the Belt and Road Summit 2023, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wan Chai, on Sept 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)