Speakers and guests take a group photo at the Second Belt and Road Youth Development Summit held in Hong Kong on Nov 13. The forum was co-organized by the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

In giving full play to its advantages in its connectivity and professional services, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is entering a new stage of high-quality exchanges with partner economies of the Belt and Road Initiative, a forum heard on Nov 13.

Hong Kong should focus on promoting the development of the “Eight Centers”, as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR Fang Jianming said in his welcome speech.

The forum attracted nearly 300 young representatives from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and various Belt and Road partner economies, including the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand

The BRI has made historic achievements in its first decade and has become a well-received international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation, he told the Second Belt and Road Youth Development Summit which was co-organized by the office and the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce in the city on Nov 13.

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“The central government fully supports Hong Kong in seizing the opportunities and positioning itself at a new starting point, participating more actively in promoting the high-quality development of the BRI, integrating into the country's new development pattern of dual circulation, and playing a better role in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Fang said.

As an important functional platform of the initiative, Hong Kong has entered a new stage of high-quality development and joint construction as a "super-connector" and "super value-adder" in the BRI, speakers said.

This year’s forum theme – "From Hong Kong to the World" – highlighted the new goals that Hong Kong has set in the next phase of BRI cooperation.

Fang added that the construction of the BRI supports youth exchanges and he expects to see the power of young people.

The forum attracted nearly 300 young representatives from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and various Belt and Road partner economies, including the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government Chan Kwok-ki said the forum brought together young talents and entrepreneurs from different fields to offer ideas and suggestions for Hong Kong's participation in the high-quality development of the BRI.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI’s proposal, Chan said the HKSAR government is determined to build on the past and forge ahead into the future, expand the global economic and trade network, and strengthen trade promotion in markets including the Association of Southeast Nations, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, to enhance Hong Kong's status as an “international trade center”.

President of the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce Cheng Cheung-ling said the experiences of the 10-year joint construction of the initiative is of great significance for Hong Kong.

The achievements and guidelines of the Third Belt and Road Form for International Cooperation will help Hong Kong to further become a participant, promoter, and beneficiary of the BRI, and it is of far-reaching significance to promote the "Eight Actions" announced by Chinese leader to take root among the young people of Hong Kong, she said.

Cheng also noted that inviting representatives of youth business associations and young entrepreneurs from BRI countries to the forum aims to strengthen and expand future collaboration and dialogue.

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The forum had two sessions: “Focusing on Hong Kong to Facilitate High-Quality Development of the Belt and Road” and “Linking BRI Young Businessmen to Create a Two-way Win-win Channel”.

At the forum, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Hong Kong Society for Indonesian Studies signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Youth Affairs Committee of the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce.

They intended to jointly build the "Business Cooperation Network of International Overseas Chinese Youth" and will give full play to their respective influence in countries involved in the BRI to build a cross-region, cross-industry, and cross-disciplinary platform for exchange and cooperation.

Contact the writer at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com