On 29 July 2026, the Ng Teng Fong • Sino Group Belt and Road Research Institute (NSBRRI) welcomed a delegation from the Belt and Road Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, led by Mr. Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt and Road. The Belt and Road Office serves as the Hong Kong SAR Government’s dedicated body for promoting Hong Kong’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative by strengthening international partnerships, facilitating business and professional exchanges, and supporting cooperation with Belt and Road partner economies.
The meeting opened with a presentation by Professor Thomas Chan, Director of the Institute, who outlined the establishment and development of the NSBRRI before introducing its mission, major research directions, publications, institutional achievements, and future development plans. He also presented the Institute’s two Master’s programs and emphasized the highly international composition of its academic and research staff, noting that the NSBRRI is among the few research institutions in Hong Kong with such broad regional expertise and international representation.
Representatives of the Institute subsequently provided a more detailed overview of its educational and research activities. Particular attention was given to the diverse composition of the student body, the distinctive features of the Institute’s academic programs, and the extensive geographical scope of its research, which covers China and Hong Kong, the Middle East, Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and other Belt and Road regions. It was highlighted that the Institute’s research is supported by extensive networks of governmental, academic, and business stakeholders across these regions, enabling analysis based on first-hand engagement rather than solely publicly available sources. The discussion also underscored the Institute’s practical approach to research, with findings disseminated directly to relevant stakeholders and translated into policy recommendations and investment portfolios prepared by regional experts.
Mr. Nicholas Ho expressed his appreciation for the breadth of the Institute’s work and presented the strategic priorities of the Belt and Road Office. He explained the Office’s role in advancing Hong Kong’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, including its regional engagement strategy, priority markets, and rotating focus on selected countries over successive three-year periods. He also highlighted the Office’s efforts to strengthen educational and people-to-people exchanges as part of Hong Kong’s broader Belt and Road strategy. The meeting concluded in a positive atmosphere, followed by the exchange of commemorative souvenirs, a tour of the Institute’s offices, introductions to members of the Institute’s academic and research team, and a group photograph. Both sides expressed their interest in maintaining communication and exploring opportunities for future cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
