HONG KONG, April 11 -- The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association Information Technology Committee held here Monday a forum on smart city industry development under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Speaking at the forum, Xu Yu, head of Information Development Bureau of the State Internet Information Office, said that building smart cities has become a common choice of many countries and regions against the backdrop and trend of the current information revolution.

"This is an important strategic opportunity for Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong under the Belt and Road Initiative," Xu said, adding the State Internet Information Office has made the cooperation of smart cities building an important part of the enhancement of information technology of the Belt and Road.

To gain fruitful results from building smart cities together, Xu suggested Mainland and Hong Kong to put emphasis on innovation and to seek ties with the strategies and policies related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

He also called for support for the Hong Kong SAR government to develop internet economy, as well as to combine smart cities building with innovation and economic development.

According to Meng Shusen, chairperson of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association Information Technology Committee, smart city is a new city development model based on the combination of different networks including the internet, telecommunications network and wireless broadband network, which brings along highly effective smart services.

She said the effective interconnection of information infrastructure is important under the Belt and Road Initiative and the building of smart cities is a hot topic among countries and regions along the Belt and Road.