Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday said Hong Kong stands as the premier hub under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), after trade with BRI countries soared over the past decade.

He made the remarks as the 10th edition of the Belt and Road Summit got underway in Wan Chai, with some 6,000 government leaders and guests from various enterprises and international organisations gathering to review progress made over the past decade.

Lee said the SAR is "delighted to welcome friends" from around the world.

He pointed out that more than 45,000 people from over 120 countries and regions have attended the annual summits over the past 10 years, promoting over 2,800 BRI projects.

The city's trade with BRI countries exceeded US$276 billion in 2024, marking an increase of about 80 percent when compared to that of 2013, and was also three times the average growth rate of Hong Kong's overall merchandise trade during the period, the CE added.

Lee noted that the city will sign another nine memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements with Belt and Road countries on Wednesday, covering collaboration in areas such as dispute avoidance and resolution, customs, anti-corruption, meteorology and investment.

"These underline our commitment to the Belt and Road, to enabling co-operation and exchanges for mutual benefit," he said.

"Also today, some 36 business-to-business agreements and deals will be announced, covering finance, technology, logistics, professional services and education.

"Thanks to projects and deals closed in recent days, their total value is now close to US$1 billion. And that's just the beginning: the beginning of another decade of business, of investment and of co-operation."

Lee also said that the city's unique advantages under the One Country, Two Systems principle, its "sophisticated" legal sector under the common law system, rising talent rankings, competitive business and taxation environments, and innovation and tech goals are also helping the SAR to be a premier BRI hub.

"Hong Kong is the ideal Belt and Road hub. As the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage, Hong Kong stands as the premier gateway for co-operation, bridging people, trade, business, education, culture and values across the region, connecting Asia and the world," he told participants.

"We are a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' for high-quality collaborations worldwide."

The summit will include a new session on key BRI projects, featuring investments in energy, natural resources, public utilities and urban development, including the city's Northern Metropolis.