Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 Kicks Off in Hong Kong, Focusing on Global Sustainable Development

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, and co-organised by the International Green Development Coalition for the Belt and Road Regions (IDGC), the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the MEE, and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 (Green Innovation Conference) was held in Hong Kong today (October 26). Under the theme "Partnering with the Global South on Green Transition, Advancing Sustainable Development Worldwide", the conference was held in Hong Kong for the first time, fully demonstrating Hong Kong's unique position and key role in advancing global green development.

The Green Innovation Conference gathered over 400 political and business leaders, representatives of international organisations, and experts and scholars from 17 Belt and Road countries and around 40 Mainland provinces and cities to engage in in-depth exchanges on topics such as green finance, green innovation, and digital empowerment. Senior officials from several Belt and Road countries, including the Union Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mr Hsan Oo; the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Mr Aziz Abdukhakimov; the Special Envoy for Climate Change in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, Mr Ali Mohamed; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Cui Jianchun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Luo Yonggang; the President of the IDGC, Mr Zhao Yingmin; and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Sophia Chong, attended the conference in person, demonstrating the shared determination of all parties to drive green transition and deepen international co-operation.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Minister of Ecology and Environment, Mr Huang Runqiu, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony this morning. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee pointed out that green transformation demands visionary planning to cope with challenges and grasp opportunities. The HKSAR Government launched Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan last month, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. With the vision of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, Hong Kong is closely aligned with the country's "dual carbon" goals. Hong Kong can provide Belt and Road partners with financing, project management and risk management professional services for green infrastructure and sustainable development projects. Hong Kong will actively participate in the Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, the Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the implementation of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Co-operation Action Plan, thereby contributing to Belt and Road co-operation.

In his address, Mr Huang stated that under the scientific guidance of President Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has unswervingly followed the prioritised path of ecology and green development, and has co-ordinated efforts to advance industrial restructuring, pollution management, ecological conservation and adaptation to climate change. China has continued to deepen practical co-operation with countries in areas such as green and low-carbon transformation and ecological and environmental protection, and has always been a firm actor and important contributor to global green development. He expressed the hope that all parties would strengthen the alignment of green strategies, enhance the enabling role of green innovation, expand green financing channels, jointly build a high-quality green Belt and Road, and make greater contributions to advancing global sustainable development.

In his keynote speech, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, highlighted that in the face of severe challenges such as climate change, Hong Kong will leverage green innovation as an engine to transform technology, capital, talent and professional services into practical and low-carbon solutions. Hong Kong will join hands with Belt and Road partners to address climate challenges and promote sustainable development.

Subsequently, the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, chaired a policy dialogue session focusing on the common challenges, future directions and collaborative vision for the green transition of the Global South. Mr Cui, Ms Chong, and high-level representatives from environmental authorities of countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Georgia, the Maldives, Egypt, and Thailand also shared their insights on issues related to green transition.

Three thematic panel discussion sessions were held in the same afternoon, focusing on key developments in green investment and financing partnerships, the green and low-carbon expert network, and the Belt and Road Big Data Service Platform. Speaking at the session on the Big Data Service Platform for Ecological and Environmental Protection, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection Dr Vanessa Au introduced how the EPD applies AI to enhance capabilities in environmental impact assessment, monitoring and law enforcement, demonstrating Hong Kong's innovative strength in green technology.

As a key international co-operation platform under the Green Silk Road framework, the Green Innovation Conference has so far been held successfully five times, attracting over 1 000 government officials, technical experts and corporate representatives from more than 50 countries and regions, playing an important role in promoting the co-building of a high-quality green Belt and Road.

After attending the morning sessions of the Green Innovation Conference, Mr Tse and Dr Chui attended bilateral meetings in the afternoon with delegations from Myanmar, the Maldives and Bangladesh respectively to exchange experiences and views on issues of mutual concern, including addressing climate change, environmental protection, and strengthening co-operation among cities.

In addition, Hong Kong's annual flagship environmental event, the 21st Eco Expo Asia, opened today at AsiaWorld-Expo, running from October 26 to 29. Centred around four key themes - "Green Energy in Motion", "Frontier Green Tech", "Building for a Greener City", and "From Waste to Worth", Eco Expo Asia provides a platform to accelerate the translation and application of local green technology and research outcomes. It enhances collaboration among the Government, industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users, driving green technology exchanges and commercial co-operation while further consolidating Hong Kong's role as a regional green development hub. Eco Expo Asia will open to the public for free on the last day of the event (October 29). For details, please refer to Eco Expo Asia's dedicated website (www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en).

The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, chaired the policy dialogue session of the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 today (October 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, delivered the keynote speech at the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 today (October 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 today (October 26). Photo shows Mr Lee (12th right); the Minister of Ecology and Environment, Mr Huang Runqiu (11th right); Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Luo Yonggang (seventh left); the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Cui Jianchun (12th left); the President of the International Green Development Coalition for the Belt and Road Regions, Mr Zhao Yingmin (fifth left); and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (14th left), and representatives from other Belt and Road countries and organisations at the opening ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, speaks at the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 today (October 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference held in Hong Kong for first time to explore green transition in Global South Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on "Developing an international health and medical innovation hub: Reform of medical products and inheritance of Chinese medicine"

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat today (October 26) released the latest issue of the Policy Pulse on "Developing an international health and medical innovation hub: Reform of medical products and inheritance of Chinese medicine", introducing Hong Kong's various measures to reform the regulatory regime for drugs and medical devices (medical products) and the latest progress in promoting the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine (CM), as well as summarising relevant discussions in LegCo and Members' recommendations.

The Outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to "advance biomedicine", "optimize the evaluation and approval mechanism for innovative drugs and drugs with urgent clinical use", whilst also supporting the promotion of CM culture and contributing to the building of a Healthy China. The Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan proposes to establish a medical innovation hub with global influence, continue to comprehensively intensify the regulatory reform of medical products, make good drugs and medical devices available for use in Hong Kong, and step up efforts to promote CM development.

This issue of the Policy Pulse outlines how Hong Kong, under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", connects international capital with innovation on the Mainland, attracts top enterprises to set up operations, builds a pool of clinical research talents, and combines the wisdom of Chinese and Western medicine, laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong to build an international health and medical innovation hub. Hong Kong is currently the largest biotechnology fundraising platform in the Asia-Pacific region and the second largest globally. As of April this year, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has successfully attracted over 120 strategic enterprises, with around one-third coming from the field of life and health technology. Half of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies have established a presence in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Hong Kong brings together two medical schools ranked among the world's top 30, and is establishing a third medical school. These figures are a true reflection of Hong Kong's strengths.

The Policy Pulse also briefs on government measures to advance medical product regulatory reform as well as research and development (R&D), including the plan to submit a bill to LegCo by the end of this year for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation to strengthen the regulatory system for medical products; drive the registration system for new drugs towards "primary evaluation" without relying on overseas registration approvals and accelerate the introduction and clinical application of new drugs; and leverage the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hetao Hong Kong Park as the core to develop Hong Kong into a top-notch global medical innovation transformation base. Members have actively contributed suggestions in these areas, urging the Government to accelerate the full implementation of the "primary evaluation" mechanism for new drugs and automatically include newly registered drugs into the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary to benefit more patients in need of innovative drugs. Meanwhile, Members suggest the Government to make proactive arrangements for budget planning, updating clinical guidelines and providing policy guidance, with a view to positioning Hong Kong as one of the world's first-launch markets for new drugs.

At the same time, the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address have announced that the Government will continue to implement the targets and actions set out in the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint, striving to turn Hong Kong into a bridgehead for CM to go global. The LegCo Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of Chinese Medicine is comprehensively reviewing and examining CM development in Hong Kong and making recommendations. Members have been supportive of the Government in promoting CM services globally under the "Hong Kong model", suggesting an increase in the quota for government-subsidised services and funding for the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong. Members also recommend setting clear targets for expanding the coverage of the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS), and promoting the internationalisation and overseas application of the HKCMMS to enhance the national influence in setting standards for CMs.

The Policy Pulse further outlines the Government's multi-pronged approach to expand the local healthcare talent pool and actively develop infrastructure to promote the high-quality development of medical innovation in the Greater Bay Area. In this regard, Members urge the Government to set a target for the number of non-locally trained doctors to be admitted, so as to achieve the ratio target of 2.43 doctors per 1 000 population set out in the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. Members also suggest setting ratios of nurses to the overall population and of nurses to patients in public hospital wards to enhance the quality of healthcare services; establishing a dedicated research fund to support early-stage R&D in life and health technology at the new medical school to accelerate the translation of research findings; and enhancing support for talent to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international health and medical innovation hub.

Details of "Developing an international health and medical innovation hub: Reform of medical products and inheritance of Chinese medicine" can be viewed or listenedon the LegCo Website. Prepared by the Council Business Divisions of the LegCo Secretariat, the Policy Pulse aims to highlight specific topics, analyse policy developments, and summarise relevant discussions in LegCo.

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