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Belt and Road

It was a 19th century German geographer, Ferdinand von Richthofen, who coined the term “Silk Road” (Seidenstrasse), for the ancient trade routes linking merchants from China with those from Central Asia, Africa and Europe. China’s ambitious Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative is the 21st century revival of that historic Silk Road. And Germany, a founding member of the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is among the nations seeing promise in the far-reaching scheme.

Infrastructural development, from highways and railways to maritime and aviation transport, together with telecommunications and energy projects, is expected to fuel B&R, boosting the economic prospects of its participants. As a key link and the prime platform for the B&R, and with the Central Government’s support, Hong Kong can capitalise on its unique advantages to connect the Mainland with other B&R regions, in areas such as the international project financing, offshore Renminbi (RMB) business, professional services, as well as economic and trade co-operation.