The central government fully supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in participating in and contributing to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng said on Wednesday.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the seventh Belt and Road Summit, which opened the same day in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) via video link. 

In the joint development of the BRI, the HKSAR plays the roles of participant, contributor and beneficiary. Holding steadfast to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, the central government also supports the HKSAR in maintaining its unique status and advantages in the long run, the vice premier said in his speech.

While strengthening practical cooperation with nations along the Belt and Road route, the HKSAR should improve its professional services for the BRI development in the fields of law, shipping, finance and counseling, and step up cultural exchanges with relevant countries, Han said.

The HKSAR should also work more closely with the Chinese mainland and make efforts to better integrate into the country's national development, Han said.

The BRI, Han said, has been widely acknowledged and joined by the international community and evolved into an influential, inclusive platform for global economic cooperation.

He added that China will continue to boost regional connectivity, explore new areas for cooperation, and unswervingly promote the high-quality development of the BRI. 

(Cover: A view of the HKSAR. /CFP)