Yang Jiechi: Hong Kong should play more active role in ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative

Beijing’s top official overseeing foreign affairs urged Hong Kong to play a more active role in the country’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative during a meeting with the Hong Kong delegates to the national legislature on Tuesday morning.

Yang Jiechi is one of China’s five state councillors – only lower in rank than Premier Li Keqiang and the four vice-premiers of the State Council, China’s cabinet. The 66-year-old former foreign minister is also deputy head of the party’s central coordination group for Hong Kong and Macau.

At the meeting, he also stressed it is important for Hong Kong to elect a chief executive in accordance with four criteria; he or she must “love the country and love Hong Kong”, be trusted by Beijing, be capable of governing, and be supported by the Hong Kong people.

“Yang also said he is firmly against Hong Kong independence, and he believes Hong Kong’s future is bright,” Ma said.

Most of the meeting focused on foreign affairs, such as the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which is spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, Ma said.