The eighth Belt and Road Summit, organized by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council was held on September 13-14, 2023. China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) attended the Summit as a Strategic Partner, actively promoting regional cooperation and mutual development. This years’ Summit was themed Prospering on a Decade of Collaboration. More than 80 guests from the countries and regions along the Belt and Road were invited to participate.

The Summit coincided with the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative and saw senior government officials, business leaders, financial and investment experts, technology giants and economists from countries and regions along the Belt and Road gather to review the significant achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative over the past decade and share their insights on collaboration and the blueprint for future development. The Honourable Mr. John Lee Ka Chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered the opening remarks.

One of the highlights of the Summit was the new Middle East forum. As one of the early Chinese investment banks to support Middle Eastern clients in accessing the capital markets in China, CICC maintains a keen focus on the region’s development and business opportunities, and is actively working towards establishing a local presence, as well as assisting more enterprises and investors from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong to expand the financial network between China and Arab countries and drive greater China-Arab financial cooperation.

Dr. Chu Gang, Chief Operating Officer of CICC, delivered the opening remarks at a keynote luncheon. He said that since the launch of Belt and Road Initiative in September 2013, Hong Kong has actively participated in and promoted its development. As an international financial, shipping, trade center and international aviation hub, Hong Kong has the advantages of a highly internationalized and rule-based business environment and a global business network, and has become an important link between the Chinese mainland and the wider world, facilitating all parties in seizing of new opportunities in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Dr. Chu said that CICC adheres to the goal of "China Roots, International Reach" and has been deeply entrenched in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. With Hong Kong as the fulcrum, CICC actively participates in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, expanding its business in many countries and regions along the Belt and Road. CICC is committed to becoming a bridge connecting the Chinese mainland and overseas capital markets. Looking ahead, CICC will continue to leverage its comprehensive strengths in investment banking, trading, investment, asset management, and research among others, and work closely with the Hong Kong SAR government and various institutions to jointly explore the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and thereby promote cross-border capital flows, serve cross-border investment and financing needs, and support local economic development.

During the Summit, Dr. Chu Gang met and exchanged views with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-Chiu, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, and Chairman of the Trade Development Council Peter Lam Kin Ngok. Dr Chu said that CICC will continue to firmly support Hong Kong in consolidating its status as an international financial center.  Dr. Chu also met with Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Rania Al-Mashat. He shared an overview of CICC’s business development in Egypt and other Arab countries and discussed with her regarding potential collaborations.

Since the inaugural Belt and Road Summit in 2016, CICC has continued to act as Strategic Partner offering support to the event.