The 11th Belt and Road Summit, held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from September 9–10, 2026, concluded with more than 60 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral co-operation agreements. The total value of these agreements, along with new projects finalised before and during the summit, exceeded US$3.1 billion, according to the press release. The event attracted over 6,200 political and business elites from more than 70 countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and beyond, exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial development.
Hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government since 2016, the summit remains the premier platform for Hong Kong's participation in the BRI. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee emphasised Hong Kong's unique position: "Hong Kong, as a place where East meets West, is where capital, talent, businesses and opportunities converge. In addition to strengthening our relations with traditional partners, Hong Kong continues to expand our network of friends along the Belt and Road."
Under the theme "Advancing High-quality Development · Embarking on a New Journey," leaders discussed co-operation in trade, legal services, green technology, logistics, artificial intelligence, and new quality productive forces. The summit focused on emerging opportunities in ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East, underscoring Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder."
Mr Lee has led high-level business delegations to 13 Belt and Road countries, delivering over 250 MoUs and other agreements covering policy coordination, trade and investment, and expanded connectivity. This year's summit introduced three new chapters: the GoGlobal Chapter, Central Asia Chapter, and Middle East Chapter. The GoGlobal Chapter provided a one-stop platform for Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking new overseas markets, while the Central Asia and Middle East chapters invited local officials and business leaders to share investment opportunities.
"In light of the shifting geopolitics, rising trade protectionism and the reshaping of global supply chains, businesses going global is no longer simply an option; it is an increasingly important strategy for Chinese Mainland enterprises to diversify risks, strengthen resilience and pursue new growth opportunities," said Mr Algernon Yau, the HKSAR Government's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
A newly integrated University Zone highlighted Hong Kong universities' R&D strengths and technology commercialisation capabilities across the Belt & Road region, consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international education hub. The summit also introduced a debut Dialogue for Future session, promoting think-tank exchanges on "The Belt and Road Initiative and Asia-Pacific Co-operation in a Changing Global Landscape."
Through the Project Investment Session, Belt and Road Deal-Making, and Exhibition Zones, the event showcased over 300 investment projects and arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings. For business leaders, this signals expanded opportunities in emerging markets and a platform to mitigate risks through diversification. The focus on AI and green technology suggests these sectors will be key drivers of future BRI projects. More information about Hong Kong's role can be found at https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/.
