The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organized by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will take place on September 9–10, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The summit aims to deepen economic and trade ties among Belt and Road markets, with a particular focus on emerging opportunities in ASEAN, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Under the theme “Advancing High-quality Development – Embarking on a New Journey,” the event will bring together nearly 100 policymakers and business leaders. New thematic showcases, including a Go Global Chapter, will be combined with business-matching activities designed to facilitate cross-border investment and trade through Hong Kong’s role as a global business platform connecting the Chinese mainland with international markets.
Go Global Chapter to support mainland enterprises
Amid changes in the global economic landscape, Hong Kong serves as an important platform for mainland enterprises expanding overseas and a gateway for international companies entering the Chinese market.
The HKTDC, as a core member of the HKSAR Government’s GoGlobal Task Force, is leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths as an international business and investment hub to facilitate cross-border cooperation.
This year’s summit introduces a dedicated Go Global Chapter, featuring thematic breakout sessions on overseas expansion opportunities and Hong Kong’s professional services. A new GoGlobal Connect Zone will showcase service providers offering practical support for companies entering international markets.
The summit will also organize a GoGlobal Business Study Mission to Nansha, Guangzhou, giving participants first-hand insights into development and investment opportunities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.
Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder” supporting high-quality cooperation across Belt and Road markets.
Policy dialogue and business plenaries
According to the official Belt and Road Summit programme, the opening session will feature speeches from HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Vice President of Uruguay Carolina Cosse, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith, and HKTDC Chairman Professor Frederick Ma.
A policy dialogue on building resilient trade and investment frameworks will be chaired by Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, with participation from government ministers representing Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Business plenaries will examine sustainable growth and shared prosperity, with a market focus on ASEAN and Central Asia. Speakers will include Dr. Victor K Fung, Chairman of Fung Investments, and Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group.
The keynote luncheon will feature remarks by Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan and an address by Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
New chapters on Central Asia and the Middle East
Following delegations led by Chief Executive John Lee, the summit will seek to deepen Hong Kong’s economic ties with Central Asia and the Middle East through dedicated regional chapters.
Government officials and business leaders will present the latest investment opportunities in Central Asia and the Middle East, while project investment sessions will cover areas such as infrastructure, smart cities and professional services.
A cocktail reception officiated by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will also feature cultural performances.
Focus on finance, technology, green development and youth
The summit’s second day will include a special address by Professor Teresa Cheng, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, followed by a dialogue examining the Belt and Road Initiative and Asia-Pacific cooperation.
A business plenary on unlocking new market opportunities will focus on the Middle East and Africa, bringing together speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa and Hong Kong.
New thematic breakout sessions will explore mainland enterprises going global and the emerging low-altitude economy, alongside established themes covering finance, green development, technology and youth.
A session examining Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for high-caliber talent will discuss how the city can use its strengths in education, research, innovation and technology to attract international talent and support regional growth.
Project investment and deal-making
The summit will feature more than 300 investment projects with a combined value exceeding US$3.7 billion, supported by over 800 one-on-one project-matching meetings.
Project pitching sessions will cover five principal areas:
- Energy, natural resources and public utilities
- Urban development
- Middle East, Africa and Latin American markets
- Transport and logistics infrastructure
- Innovation and technology
Signature project sessions will highlight major infrastructure and investment opportunities, including Alatau City and Data Centre Valley in Kazakhstan and the Ankara–Istanbul High-Speed Rail project in Türkiye.
The Belt and Road Summit Deal Making programme will provide project owners, investors, professional service providers and other potential partners with opportunities to hold direct negotiations. Online matching activities will continue on September 14–15, extending networking and cooperation beyond the physical summit.
More than 120 exhibitors will also participate across the Hong Kong Zone, Global Investment Zone, Chinese Mainland Zone, ASEAN Zone, University Zone, GreenTech Zone and GoGlobal Connect Zone.
Why the summit matters for international businesses
For international companies, the summit provides opportunities to identify cross-border investment projects, meet government and business decision-makers, and connect with professional service providers supporting entry into Asian and Belt and Road markets.
The emphasis on ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa also reflects Hong Kong’s growing role in connecting mainland Chinese companies with emerging markets. Businesses active in infrastructure, logistics, energy, financial services, green technology, smart cities and international trade are likely to find the programme particularly relevant.
The combination of policy discussions, regional market sessions, project presentations and one-on-one meetings positions the Belt and Road Summit 2026 as an important platform for companies seeking practical investment and partnership opportunities across international markets.
Source: HKTDC Media Room, 1 September 2026.
