Singapore, 15 August 2017 - Lianhe Zaobao (LHZB), the Chinese flagship newspaper of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) unveiled the English version of their Belt and Road portal (beltandroad.zaobao.com/beltandroaden) today.

This highly anticipated English version will complement the Chinese-language Belt and Road portal (beltandroad.zaobao.com/beltandroad), which is Southeast Asia's first comprehensive website focusing on China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI). The BRI was first raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote key infrastructure projects along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is currently China's top national-level strategy.

The Chinese-language portal, launched in March 2016, has been well received by readers, amassing a total of over 11 million page views so far with visitors coming mainly from the Greater China Region, Singapore, other Asean countries and the United States. The English version aims to drive a deeper understanding of the BRI and widen the portal's reach beyond the region.

Mr Teo Siong Seng, Chairman of SBF, said: 'Riding on the resounding success of the 'Belt and Road' Chinese Portal, SBF has partnered SPH to launch an English version of the portal to attract more international readers and widen the portal's reach beyond the region. The 'Belt & Road' English portal will leverage the ever growing interest for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) related news, as well as provide a regional perspective on this important initiative. It will also highlight Singapore's role in the BRI, and how the initiative will impact our region and the world.'

Mr Anthony Tan, Deputy CEO of SPH, said: 'With the Belt and Road initiative garnering prominence regionally, there is demand for a trusted website that carries news and developments on the BRI. In tandem with this demand, our 'Belt and Road' portal, previously only available in Chinese, will be expanded to include English content. The Chinese website has gained good reputation since its launch for its in-depth coverage of the BRI, and the audience have valued it for its independent and unique Singaporean perspective. We are sure that the English version will build on the strengths and reach out to a wider audience going forward.'

Similar to the Chinese-language portal, the English edition is featured as a special section on zaobao.com. It has a mobile-friendly interface for quick and convenient access through all web browsers, operating systems and across all digital devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Users can access the portal's content free of charge. This includes an overview of BRI, news & analysis, commentaries, and a calendar of related activities.

The new portal could also help business leaders recognise opportunities and navigate risks that the BRI presents. As the main sponsor of the portal, HSBC has tapped into the wisdom of its in-house experts to present astute insights for companies that are keen to seize more business opportunities from the BRI. Other sponsors include Bank of China, OCBC, Perennial and PSA.

Mr Tony Cripps, CEO of HSBC Singapore, said: 'Singapore's future prosperity depends heavily on the international connectivity that it builds and the partnerships that it nurtures, and China's Belt and Road Initiative will be a key enabler of both these aims. The infrastructure development story happening across South East Asia will further China and Singapore's partnership particularly through the shared roles they can play in securing and arranging the financing of ASEAN countries' infrastructure needs. Singapore is already a well-established infrastructure finance hub for the region, with about two-thirds of project financing for ASEAN already coming from the city state. Beyond the financing, the construction activity that is happening across ASEAN is creating plenty of downstream opportunities for domestic and international construction, logistics and engineering firms based in Singapore. The clear growth opportunity that BRI presents Asia makes it an important plank of HSBC's business growth in Asia.'

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For more information, please contact:

Ms Han Yong Hong (韩咏红)

China News Editor, Lianhe Zaobao cum Head, Zaobao China Online

Chinese Media Group

Singapore Press Holdings

DID: 6319 1388

Email: hanyh@sph.com.sg

Mr Francis Mah

Senior Manager

Corporate Communications & CSR

Singapore Press Holdings

DID: 6319 1028

Email: mahys@sph.com.sg

About Lianhe Zaobao

Lianhe Zaobao, the Chinese flagship newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings, is the largest-circulating Chinese newspaper in Singapore. Widely recognised in Southeast Asia for its superior quality as a responsible, objective, fair and credible newspaper, it also enjoys a good reputation and considerable influence in the global Chinese communities. It's 200-strong editorial team, including correspondents based in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo, keeps Singaporeans informed of major developments in the region. Zaobao.com, the online edition of Zaobao, has grown rapidly in popularity since its launch in 1995. It now draws over 4 million daily page views and attracts a monthly readership of 10 million.

About Singapore Business Federation

As the apex business chamber, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) champions the interests of the business community in Singapore in trade, investment and industrial relations. Nationally, SBF acts as the bridge between the government and businesses in Singapore to create a conducive business environment. Internationally, SBF represents the business community in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora for the purpose of trade expansion and business networking. For more information, please visit our website:www.sbf.org.sg.

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms, ranging from print, digital, radio and out-of-home media.

SPH owns award-winning newspapers, magazines and best-selling books in both print and digital editions, as well as online classified businesses in the region. In addition, SPH has two English radio stations and one Chinese radio station, an out-of-home digital advertising unit, a regional events and conferences arm, and runs a chain of modern retail convenience stores. SPH also has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.

SPH REIT comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall. SPH's latest retail development is The Seletar Mall located in Sengkang.

SPH is in the healthcare sector, operating private nursing homes under Orange Valley.

For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg

SPH - Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. published this content on 15 August 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 15 August 2017 06:26:00 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.sph.com.sg/media_releases/3276

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