Politburo member and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh attended the 9th annual Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit in Hong Kong (China) on September 11, at the invitation of Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu.

Themed “Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road”, the two-day summit drew nearly 6,000 delegates from governments, leading corporations and enterprises across 70 countries and economies. Its discussions focused on trade and investment among nations, green and inclusive growth, infrastructure and logistics, financial and trade services, people-to-people exchange, sci-tech and innovation.

In his speech at the opening session, Binh underlined the importance of equal, open, and mutually beneficial cooperation in line with international law in implementing cooperation initiatives and regional and global economic connectivity.

He outlined five priority areas for Hong Kong's contribution to implementing the agreements reached by senior leaders of Vietnam and China, including strengthening financial cooperation, particularly in financial services and securities, and banking digitisation, developing global and regional financial centres, and establishing a voluntary carbon trading market.

Binh suggested Hong Kong facilitates trade and study to expand regional economic corridors; encourages investment in new technologies such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy and smart cities to support digital and green transformation; accelerates infrastructure connectivity, especially border gate infrastructure and railways between Vietnam and China; fosters friendship city connections and people-to-people exchanges to boost two-way trade and tourism.

He urged the business community to support Vietnam's new development phase and reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government's commitment to backing businesses.

The summit also featured business networking sessions and an exhibition showcasing investment projects, with several projects and agreements signed during the event.

On the same day, Binh met with Chief Executive Lee, affirming Vietnam's support for deepening cooperation with Hong Kong and welcoming its bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Binh proposed increasing delegation exchanges, connecting the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework with the BRI, and encouraging Hong Kong businesses to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects aligned with Vietnam's sustainable development strategy.

He also suggested Hong Kong increase imports of Vietnamese goods, particularly agro-forestry-fishery products, and build an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Binh urged closer cooperation in citizen protection, judicial matters, law enforcement, and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Hong Kong.

Lee, for his part, wished to further bolster friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, especially high-level contacts, economy-trade, investment, finance, culture and education, and people-to-people exchanges. He also affirmed Hong Kong's support for Vietnam in successfully hosting the APEC Year 2027.

Also on September 11, Binh visited the Victoria prison at the Tai Kwun heritage site, where President Ho Chi Minh was held during his revolutionary activities in Hong Kong.

A day earlier, Binh held a working session with Hong Kong corporate executives, pledging support for their effective and sustainable business operations in Vietnam.

On September 11, Binh and his entourage concluded their two-day working trip to Hong Kong./.VNA