CGCC World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit Belt & Road and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Opportunities

The "CGCC World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit" hosted by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) was held on August 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Executive Vice Chairman of the China National Democratic Construction Association Gu Shengzu, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the HKSAR, Wang Zhimin, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee and Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Xu Yousheng, and Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR Xie Feng, were invited as the officiating guests. With the theme of "Belt & Road and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Opportunities ", the summit has gathered nearly 1,000 guests, among them were Mainland and Hong Kong government officials, global Chinese businessmen, Hong Kong professional service elites, as well as experts and scholars from different sectors at home and abroad, exploring the development prospects of "Belt and Road" and "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area" and also the role of Hong Kong.

The summit is divided into two major themes, "Leveraging on Hong Kong’s Strengths on the Business & Professional Services for New Regional Cooperation Development" and "New Economy and Opportunities for Business & Professional Services", discussing topics: 1.Explore New Opportunities for Belt and Road Market; 2. Promote the Bay Area Development; 3. Development of Smart City; 4. New Impetus for Innovation Economy.

In his opening speech, Jonathan Choi, Chairman of The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, said that in facing today’s complex and volatile political and economic situation, the country adheres to Reform and Opening-up, emphasizing the importance of maintaining multilateralism and the free trade system, and actively promoting liberalization and facilitation of economic and trade investments, and expanding mutual benefits for global partners through "Belt and Road”, “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area" and other regional cooperation platforms.

In her opening speech, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that the country’s "Belt and Road" initiative and the construction of the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area", have given Hong Kong and global Chinese businessmen a major opportunity. Hong Kong is both a "contributor" and a "beneficiary". The HKSAR Government will act as a "booster" and "promoter" under the dual advantages of "One Country, Two Systems", to become a "Belt and Road" financing and professional service platform, and further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a bridge to connect the Mainland and other economies.

In his speech, Vice Chairman Gu Shengzu pointed out that the construction of “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area” is not only a new practice to promote the development of “One Country, Two Systems” in the new era, but also a new pattern to promote the country’s comprehensive Opening-up, as well as a new initiative to practice innovation-driven and high quality development.

Deputy Director Xu Yousheng pointed out in his speech that "Belt and Road" has entered a new stage of comprehensive advancement. The promotion of the "Belt and Road" cannot be separated from the active docking and extensive participation of the governments and its people along the region. He hopes that the overseas Chinese will take the initiative to promote the "Belt and Road" sharing business, sharing construction, sharing fruition principle, and also its mutual benefit and a win-win concept to the international community. At the same time, it may act as a "matchmaker" to attract Chinese companies to "go global".

Commissioner Xie Feng said that the “Belt and Road” originated in China and the results belong to the world. The “Belt and Road” has brought opportunities to countries along the region and around the world. Today it has become the largest and most popular international cooperation platform in the world. Chinese businessmen is a participant, contributor and beneficiary of China’s Reform and Opening-up. He also hopes that overseas Chinese businessmen can help Hong Kong to serve the country and benefit the world in promoting the construction of the “Belt and Road” and the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area”.

The first part of the summit was hosted by Mr. Anthony Leung, Group Chairman and CEO of Nan Fung Group. The guests discussed around the topic of “Belt and Road”. Professor Zhang Yansheng, Senior Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont, Dr. Bernard Chan, and Senior Counsel Rimsky Yuen, introduced Hong Kong’s unique advantages in finance, project management, legal arbitration, etc., and encouraged local Chinese businessmen to make better use of Hong Kong’s advantages, deepen ties and explore the new opportunities for regional economic and trade cooperation under "Belt and Road".

In the part of the morning session, the focus was on the development of the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area”, chaired by Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union. Professor Jacky So, Dr. Sunny Chai, Secretary Patrick Nip, Vice President Yuan Jun and Mr. Jack Chan respectively expressed their views on the development and construction of the Bay Area. At the same time, they agreed that the Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong should further promote the smooth transaction of people, logistics and capital flow, and become a catalyst for stimulating the development potential of the Bay Area.

The afternoon forum focused on "New Economy and Opportunities for Business and Professional Services" and launched the first panel discussion on "Development of Smart City". Hosted by Mr. Eric Yeung, President of Smart City Consortium, Mr. Pek Lian Guan, Mr. Daniel Hong, Mr. Lin Guangming, Mr. Ian Chung and Mr. Waynffly Zhong shared successful cases of Chinese businessmen in promoting the application of science and technology and boosting the development of smart cities.

The second part of the afternoon forum was themed "New Impetus for Innovation Economy " and was hosted by Professor Tony F Chan, founding member of The Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong and President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Mr. Melvin Toh, Mr. Shang Hailong, Mr. Teoh Kok Lin and Mr. Cheung Chun Yin shared the trend of organic and interactive development of various industries and professional services under the current innovation and technology wave, which is bound to expand the market and bring broad development prospects.

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