Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 today (October 26):
Honourable Minister Huang Runqiu (Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China), honourable consul delegations, Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Hong Kong and the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference. More than 400 government representatives and professionals from 16 countries are here, in Hong Kong, for this essential global environmental gathering.
This is the first time the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference is being held outside the Chinese Mainland. And we are privileged to jointly organise this flagship event with our country's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Last week, Hong Kong hosted the annual APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting – again, for the very first time. This week, we focus on green transformation. From finance to green transformation, Hong Kong is well placed to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", connecting people and opportunities, and helping turn collaboration into concrete results.
The theme of this Conference is "Partnering for Green Transformation in the Global South, Jointly Promoting Global Sustainable Development". It captures a critical message: green transformation is a shared endeavour. By bringing together our resources, expertise and innovative ideas, multilateral collaboration can achieve more than unilateral effort.
In short, Hong Kong believes in multilateralism. We help Belt and Road partners connect with one another, combining their strengths to advance green development. For the next few minutes, allow me to explain how we do so.
First, we connect green projects with international capital. Hong Kong is a leading green and sustainable finance hub. For eight consecutive years, we have led Asia in arranging international green and sustainable bond issuances, accounting for about 40 per cent of the regional total.
We also combine green finance with financial innovation. Last month, the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government priced about HK$20 billion in digital green bonds, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, Renminbi, US dollars and euros. That illustrates our ability to mobilise capital across currencies in support of green development.
For example, a solar energy project can bring together Chinese Mainland equipment suppliers, a Southeast Asian developer and Middle Eastern investors. Hong Kong can help these partners raise finance, structure their investments, arrange insurance and manage cross-border risks. Our contribution, let me add, is about more than matching capital with projects. Hong Kong’s professional services also help ensure that a project is bankable and insurable.
Second, we connect green technologies with the markets that need them. Finance delivers results when it supports solutions suited to local conditions. Hong Kong combines access to Chinese Mainland innovation and manufacturing with international business expertise to deploy, and adapt, those solutions.
Take, for example, our annual Eco Expo Asia, which opens today alongside this Conference. Many exhibitors offering green solutions are connecting with overseas buyers and investors. And we will launch the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme next year. It will help Chinese Mainland and overseas green enterprises take their green solutions to Belt and Road markets, combining technological capabilities with local demand.
Hong Kong is also an ideal springboard. We can help green enterprises from Belt and Road partner countries reach out to other corners of the world.
Third, we connect partners through credible standards. For cross-border collaboration to succeed, partners must have confidence in the technology. We are working on a Green Hydrogen Standard Certification system. It's based on Chinese Mainland and international standards, providing a clearer basis for assessing green hydrogen. A credible certification system will enable investment in trusted green hydrogen projects. Our goal is to see the Hong Kong certification system widely recognised by other jurisdictions, we want to be serving as a trusted bridge between Chinese Mainland and international standards.
We are also working with the National Energy Administration to establish Hong Kong's first "ChaoJi" electric vehicle, charging-technology-demonstration station in the coming year. It's designed to be compatible with national and European charging standards. Such initiatives can help technologies work across wide-ranging markets.
Fourth, we connect people through training and knowledge exchange. Talent is the foundation in building capabilities for green transformation. Our Belt and Road Capacity Building Platforms offer expertise across varying sectors. The Belt and Road Sustainable Green Development Training Centre adds a dedicated focus on green development.
These, and other, initiatives enable officials and professionals to exchange experience on issues such as green buildings, energy efficiency and waste management. They also support the people-to-people bonds that underpin Belt and Road co-operation.
Green transformation demands visionary planning to cope with challenges and grasp opportunities. That's why, last month, Hong Kong launched its first Five-Year Plan, which aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Our vision is to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, in close alignment with the country's "dual carbon" goals.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong can provide Belt and Road partners with financing, project management and risk management services for green infrastructure and sustainable development projects. We are eager to share our experience and learn from others.
We will do so by taking part in the Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange and the Belt and Road Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation. We will also participate in the implementation of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Co-operation Action Plan.
In building a greener, more prosperous and sustainable future, Hong Kong is your reliable partner. We look forward to contributing, collaborating and connecting with you across the Belt and Road – and beyond.
I wish you all the best of business, and the environment, at the Conference and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, Asia's world city. Thank you.
Oct262026