Beijing backs HK for greater role in Belt and Road
Hong Kong has the support of the central government in maintaining its unique status and advantages to play an even greater role in the country's Belt and Road Initiative, a top Beijing official said on Wednesday.  In a video address at the Belt and Road Summit, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang also urged the SAR to deepen its regional cooperation. Addressing the summit in Wan Chai, Ding said China has "built an extensive circle of friends" in the first 10 years of the initiative with more than 200 agreements signed with dozens of countries and international organisations.  Hong Kong has leveraged its unique advantages to actively take part in the initiative, and continuously strengthen cooperation with partners, Ding added.  "We support Hong Kong in maintaining its unique status and advantages long-term, consolidating its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, safeguarding a free and open, as well as a standardised business environment, maintaining its common law system, exploring smooth and convenient global connections, and playing an even more important role in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.  Hong Kong should further expand its economic and trade network in the region, Ding said, adding that the central authorities support the SAR in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as soon as possible.  The vice premier also urged the SAR to make good use of its status as an international financial hub, and talents in professional services, while fostering people-to-people exchanges. Chief Executive John Lee, for his part, told attendees that the SAR is a "Belt and Road super-highway" and that the government is redoubling its efforts to serve as a functional platform for the initiative.  "Hong Kong is an important conduit between mainland China and the world," Lee said.  "We are expanding our cooperation with Belt and Road partners in a wide range of areas, from trade and investment, innovation and technology, to infrastructure development and many more, for the common good, for the common prosperity of our people and people everywhere." The two-day event, the first to be held in-person after the Covid pandemic, has brought in about 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries and regions, including top government officials and business leaders.  Lee said a record-breaking number of memoranda of understanding will be exchanged and signed during the summit, two of them with the mainland relating to the environment.