MSAR officials won’t attend Belt and Road Forum

The city’s top official has no current plans to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, to be held on May 14 and 15 in Beijing, according to a response to Business Daily’s enquiries.
‘The Government Information Bureau has so far received no information regarding the Chief Executive or any officials taking part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation,’ reads the response, noting that in regards to any future change of plans, the ‘Government would announce in due course should there be further official news on this issue.’
To date, the forum is set to welcome 28 heads of state and government, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. In addition, over 80 leaders of international organizations, 1,200 delegates from countries and regions and 100 ministerial-level officials are set to attend, notes People’s Daily.
A three-day trip by top officials, initiated last Wednesday, including Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung) to visit the cities under the Greater Bay Area plan, came in advance of the meeting, aimed at bringing the two SARs and the nine cities in Guangdong comprising the plan, closer together. However the MSAR’s top official was also not present for the trip.
The central government’s ‘Greater Bay Area’, ‘One Belt, One Road’ and new Silk Road project aim to promote commercial ties worldwide through investment, infrastructure building and commercial opportunities.