Twenty Hong Kong Students Explore Kazakhstan, Bridging Belt and Road Opportunities
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Sham Shui Po District Office's youth network 'Sham Shui Po Youth in Motion' organized a seven-day exchange trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, for 20 district students. Led by Assistant District Officer (Sham Shui Po) Wong Yee-shi, the delegation explored opportunities arising from the 15th Five-Year Plan's innovation and technology agenda and the Belt and Road Initiative from September 27 to October 3, 2026 .
Key Points
- The delegation met with Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Dubai Deputy Director Poon Leung-hoi and HKTDC Almaty Advisory Office Representative Eraliyeva Akerkin at Satbayev University, discussing how Hong Kong offices assist local enterprises in overseas market expansion and investment attraction .
- At SDU University, students engaged with local peers and encountered Kazakhstani students originally from Xinjiang, exchanging perspectives on cross-cultural adaptation, campus life, and future career planning .
- The group visited the Children's Palace to examine Kazakhstan's approach to talent development from early childhood through adolescence, covering programming, technology, fashion design, and chess—prompting reflection on Hong Kong's child care and training systems .
- At the SmArt.Point startup hub, students explored shared workspace models and youth entrepreneurship patterns, observing how local ecosystems encourage innovative and progressive entrepreneurial spirits .
- Cultural excursions included Panfilov Park, the wooden Assumption Cathedral, Central Mosque, Central Museum, and the Topzhargan traditional culture base, where participants experienced Silk Road heritage through folk activities and nomadic cultural demonstrations .
Why It Matters
This exchange program directly addresses Hong Kong's strategic positioning as a 'super-connector' between mainland China and Eurasian nations, providing young people with first-hand understanding of Belt and Road markets and partnerships . The exposure to Kazakhstan's innovation ecosystem and talent development approaches offers concrete models that could inform Hong Kong's own strategies for nurturing future-ready professionals in an increasingly interconnected region .
This exchange program directly addresses Hong Kong's strategic positioning as a 'super-connector' between mainland China and Eurasian nations, providing young people with first-hand understanding of Belt and Road markets and partnerships . The exposure to Kazakhstan's innovation ecosystem and talent development approaches offers concrete models that could inform Hong Kong's own strategies for nurturing future-ready professionals in an increasingly interconnected region .