HK's Belt and Road Commissioner reflects on two years of building global bridges

In a heartfelt public letter, Hong Kong’s Belt and Road Initiative Commissioner Nicholas Ho Lik-chi shares milestones and personal reflections on advancing the city’s role as a key connector in China’s global infrastructure strategy.

The Commissioner for the Belt and Road Initiative has detailed the city’s growing involvement in China’s landmark global development strategy in an open letter addressed to his father.

Appointed nearly two years ago, Ho likened his work to “building bridges across nations”—each step deliberate, each connection meaningful. Under his leadership, Hong Kong has actively positioned itself as a functional platform for Belt and Road cooperation, facilitating project matching, organizing overseas missions, and hosting high-level forums.

The office has focused strongly on ASEAN and Middle Eastern markets while also exploring opportunities in Central Asia, South Asia, and North Africa. Delegations led by Ho have touched down in Hungary, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Malaysia, resulting in signed cooperation agreements and tangible business deals.

Notable achievements include the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Riyadh and Ürümqi, green energy partnerships in the Middle East, and digital Silk Road collaborations across Southeast Asia.

Ho emphasized Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a bilingual, common-law gateway with deep ties to mainland China and international markets. Moving forward, his office aims to develop Hong Kong into a high-quality project hub and is exploring the establishment of a Belt and Road Talent Development Center.

The upcoming 10th Belt and Road Summit in September, themed “Collaborate for Change, Shape a Shared Future,” will serve as a flagship event to showcase Hong Kong’s contributions and foster deeper engagement with partner economies.

Ho also highlighted efforts to strengthen people-to-people bonds, including the Belt and Road Scholarship, which has supported nearly 700 students from 49 countries. Over 4,000 students from Belt and Road regions are enrolled in Hong Kong’s publicly funded programs this academic year.

Citing his father’s advice to “think big, start small,” Ho expressed gratitude for the family legacy of perseverance and dedication—values that continue to guide him as he helps build bridges across the world.