Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies

Background

The Belt and Road Initiative, unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote regional connectivity, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and mutual learning among countries along two ancient economic corridors. An action plan, Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, was put forward in March 2015 by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce. The initiative will be open to all countries and international and regional organisations. The plan calls for policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bond through multilateral mechanisms and multilevel platforms.

Conference Objectives

A premier academia international conference on Hong Kong and the World under the Belt and Road Initiative, co-hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies and the Central Policy Unit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will be a major milestone in providing an international forum for scholars, policy-makers, think tanks, and other stakeholders from around 30 countries in the Belt and Road regions to share knowledge and experiences, and promote collaboration.

The objectives of the conference are:

To understand socioeconomic and political developments in the Belt and Road regions;
To explore the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative;
To utilise Hong Kong’s connectivity, special academic, cultural, and historical position to build up an academia international platform for collaborative research efforts; and
To promote academic, social, and business linkages between China and the world, with special emphasis on Hong Kong’s special roles, functions, and contributions.

Organising Committee

Chairpersons

Prof. Fanny M. CHEUNG	Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Co-Director, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
Prof. Stephen W. K. CHIU	Co-Director, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies

Members

Prof. Terence T. L. CHONG	Executive Director, Institute of Global Economics and Finance, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ms Grace LUI	Secretary to the Commission on Strategic Development, Central Policy Unit, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Mr Edwin LAU	Senior Administrative Officer, Commission on Strategic Development, Central Policy Unit, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Prof. SUNG Yun-wing	Co-Director, Shanghai-Hong Kong Development Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Fudan University
Prof. XI Chao	Director, Chinese Law Programme, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies

Coordinators

Ms WAN Po-san	Research Officer, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
Dr Victor ZHENG	Assistant Director, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies