Dr. David Palmer Highlights Cultural Dimensions of Belt and Road at Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Roundtable

On January 25, 2024, Dr. David A. Palmer spoke at a high-level roundtable hosted by the Hong Kong Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU), focusing on people-to-people connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Bringing together a distinguished group of scholars, government advisors, and policy experts, the roundtable explored new pathways for enhancing cultural understanding and social trust across BRI partner countries. Dr. Palmer’s presentation provided a cornerstone of the dialogue, offering an incisive analysis of the challenges and opportunities surrounding the human dimensions of the BRI.

Drawing on the interdisciplinary research of the “Global China, Local Cultures” project—conducted in collaboration with field teams in Laos and other BRI regions—Dr. Palmer emphasized that many BRI investments have encountered local resistance due to cultural misalignment and insufficient grassroots engagement. His research highlighted a critical need for more nuanced, people-centered approaches to international development, particularly in communities deeply shaped by local religions, traditions, and social values.

Dr. Palmer proposed concrete strategies to position Hong Kong as a bridge-builder in the BRI’s cultural arena. These included establishing the city as a regional hub for executive training in cultural intelligence, developing mechanisms for civil society consultation, and promoting deeper partnerships between Hong Kong institutions and communities across the Belt and Road. He also pointed to the unique role Hong Kong’s Daoist networks and academic institutions can play in fostering transnational spiritual and cultural exchange.

His remarks resonated strongly with fellow roundtable participants, including CEPU Expert Group members Professor Thomas Chan, Professor Alfred Ho, Dr. Chow Pak-chin, Dr. Ma Jun, Dr. Chloe Suen, Mr. Chang Ka-mun, and Professor Huang Ping. The event was also attended by Ms. Marjorie Yang, member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers, and Mr. Nicholas Ho, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for the Belt and Road.

The roundtable reaffirmed the growing consensus that the success of the BRI depends not only on infrastructure and trade but also on trust-building, mutual understanding, and sustainable cultural exchange. Dr. Palmer’s insights underscored the importance of an integrative, human-centered vision for international cooperation—one in which Hong Kong can serve as both a model and a mediator.

The CEPU pledged to continue advancing research and dialogue in this area, with a view to reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a strategic connector between China and the world through deeper people-to-people ties.

Report by CEPU: https://www.cepu.gov.hk/en/PUEG/expertGroup_events/20240102.html