Speech by SCST at opening of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Belt & Road International Symposium 2025 (English only)
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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Belt & Road International Symposium 2025 today (February 28):
President Julia Lau (President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects), 葉副部長 (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu), 孟建民副理事長 (Vice Chairman of the Architectural Society of China, Dr Meng Jianmin), Ar Saifuddin (President of Architects Regional Council Asia, Mr Saifuddin Bin Ahmad), Ar Gonthier (President of International Union of Architects, Ms Regina Gonthier), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you this morning at the opening of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Belt and Road International Symposium 2025. This is my first time attending an HKIA event as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, but actually I am very happy to see many old friends in this distinguished audience.
As an important strategy of the Central People’s Government, the Belt and Road Initiative has entered its golden era. Themed as "Cultiversal - The Tapestry of Cultural Diversity & Universality", the Symposium today is held at an opportune time. I believe many of us would actually look forward to hearing from the prestigious speakers to share their insights on urban-rural integration, heritage and modernity, and other interesting topics on architecture. May I give a warm welcome to these elites from Hong Kong, the Mainland of China and seven other countries.
In the coming two days, we will be exploring innovative possibilities for the future with a view to promoting Hong Kong's architectural services to the Mainland of China and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Funded by the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, today's Symposium aims at fostering the exchange of local and international professionals in the industry of architecture. The objective also aligns with the policy direction of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under my Bureau.
The CCIDA is dedicated to fostering a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. The architecture sector, being one of the major components of our robust cultural and creative industries, has been a close partner of the CCIDA. We have also sponsored the HKIA Biennale Foundation to organise the Hong Kong Collateral Event at Biennale Architettura - International Architecture Exhibition and Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) to promote Hong Kong's architecture in the international arena and to the local public. I am thrilled to learn that the Hong Kong Collateral Event has developed into a roving exhibition which also tours in one Belt and Road country and the Mainland of China in each edition.
Speaking of the development of creative industries in Hong Kong, the Government promulgated the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in November last year, setting out a clear vision, principles and strategic directions for the development of the industries, thereby further consolidating Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. We will continue to support the cultural and creative industries, including the architecture sector, to tap into new markets and promote cultural exchanges, in particular with Belt and Road countries and regions.
Before I close, I would like to congratulate the HKIA for organising another successful edition of the Symposium. Thank you.