Hong Kong delegates get front row VIP seats at ‘Belt and Road’ summit in Beijing

Local group comprises eight top officials and 22 business representatives at event to discuss China’s ambitious go-global trade strategy encompassing more than 60 countries

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying speaks about the city’s role in Beijing’s trade strategy. Photo: Handout

Published: 12:40pm, 14 May 2017Updated: 11:04pm, 14 May 2017

A 30-strong Hong Kong delegation was among 1,200 guests from 28 countries and territories to attend the first day of the summit for Beijing’s “Belt and Road Initiative” on Sunday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin welcoming the pack with speeches simultaneously translated into 16 languages.

Despite being one of the smaller groups at the summit, the Hong Kong delegation, led by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, had front row seats at the show, with 10 of those places reserved, as opposed to the free seating arrangement for other attendees.

Eight senior Hong Kong government officials and 22 representatives from the business, finance and professional sectors made the journey to the capital for the summit.

“The list of languages available is spectacular,” one member of the delegation said. “This is even more than at the Apec [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] meeting.”

Translating or learning languages used in the 60 countries included in the belt and road programme would be a major priority for firms hoping to be part of China’s ambitious go-global trade strategy, the delegate said.

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