The 4th Belt and Road Youth Development Forum was successfully held on Monday in Hong Kong, with organizers emphasizing that the city should be the "first stop" for youth on their way to make a mark on the world.

Over 400 representatives attended the event at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, including diplomats and youth business representatives from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative such as Brunei, Singapore, Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar.

The event was co-hosted by the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association.

In her welcome speech, Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce President Cheng Cheung-ling, emphasized that Hong Kong should become the "first stop" for youth on their path to the world and called for resource support from businesses and government to aid the youth's participation in the BRI.

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Through the expansion of the international youth business cooperation platform, the forum aims to connect with emerging markets in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, she said.

It would also facilitate youth entrepreneurial projects in accessing capital, technology, and markets, making Hong Kong the 'first stop' for youth to reach the world, she added.

Hua You, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the forum's significance and its focus on "digital innovation" and "green development," echoing current global trends.

He highlighted the need to seize the opportunities presented by Belt and Road cooperation even as anti-globalization sentiment grows.

It is precisely under such circumstances that everyone must uphold the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, to deepen Belt and Road cooperation together, and join hands in addressing risks and challenges, Hua said.

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He also stressed the need to expand the outcomes of Belt and Road cooperation and promote a better narrative, working with countries to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges at the subnational, non-governmental, and youth levels.

Alice Mak Mei-kuen, secretary for home and youth affairs of the HKSAR government, emphasized the SAR government's strong commitment to youth development.

Under the "Home Affairs and Youth Affairs Bureau - United Nations Volunteer Internship Program" for 2025, 19 local university students have internships for six months at UN offices in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and other regions taking part in the BRI.

Additionally, around 2,000 youths participated in the 2024-25 "International Youth Exchange Funding Program," which includes participants from 30 countries involved in the BRI, broadening their horizons.

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Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to empower young people to seize opportunities in various new fields, becoming pioneers in co-building the BRI, she added.

The forum also featured four subforums tackling key global development issues, which included discussions on topics such as supply chain finance, energy transformation, and cultural management.

Agreements for co-building the "Business Cooperation Network of International Overseas Chinese Youth" were also signed between the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce and the Timor-Leste General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and with the Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce.