Hong Kong ethnic minorities key to Belt and Road expansion, officials say

Hong Kong's ethnic minority youth possess unique multicultural backgrounds and language skills that position them to contribute significantly to the city's collaboration with Belt and Road Initiative countries, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han.

Locally Grown Talent Pool Highlighted

Speaking at the Zubin Foundation's Ethnically Diverse Youth Leadership Summit, Sun told an audience of about 300 young people from ethnic minority backgrounds that their abilities would be valuable as Hong Kong pursues deeper ties with belt and road nations. "Here in Hong Kong … we have a locally grown talent [pool]," Sun said. "They speak the language, they know the culture … while they know so much about Hong Kong. So I think you do have a very important role to play in the years to come".

The labour minister emphasized that the city is building and forging much closer collaboration with countries under the Belt and Road Initiative umbrella, creating opportunities for these communities.

Helping Chinese Firms Expand Globally

Other speakers at the summit, which took place on Saturday, echoed Sun's assessment by highlighting the advantages these historically marginalised communities hold in assisting mainland Chinese companies with international expansion. The remarks underscored how ethnic minority groups' dual cultural fluency and linguistic capabilities could serve as strategic assets in facilitating cross-border business relationships and strengthening Hong Kong's role as a connector between China and belt and road economies.

Source: South China Morning Post