Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought international cooperation to new heights, and vowed to further strengthen Hong Kong's role in the initiative.

Speaking at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Lee said the SAR has a lot to offer, with a strong global network and the staunch backing of the nation.

"As Asia's world city, Hong Kong serves as a key link for the Belt and Road Initiative," he told a CEO conference.

"We are committed to providing enterprises and economies in the Belt and Road regions with high-quality professional services they need in such areas as project financing, risk management, international legal services and dispute resolution, construction works, shipping and logistics, innovation and technology and so on."

The CE, who's leading a 70-strong delegation to the capital, said the scheme has been very effective in fostering international exchanges and business opportunities.

"From 2017 to 2022, the number of regional headquarters that Belt and Road countries established in Hong Kong doubled from 83 to 168, growing at an average rate of over 15 percent per year," he said.

"Hong Kong's direct investment in Belt and Road countries also saw a 70 percent increase, rising from US$70 billion to US$120 billion in 2021, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 15 percent."

Lee invited business leaders to set up Belt and Road offices in Hong Kong and promote development projects that are sustainable and beneficial to people's livelihood.