19th Asian Financial Forum concludes, attracts global leaders

The 19th Asian Financial Forum concluded successfully in Hong Kong on Tuesday, drawing over 4,000 political and business leaders from more than 60 countries and regions.

Held under the theme “A New Chapter for Asia: Steering Growth Through Financial Empowerment,” the two-day event featured more than 150 speakers. It launched the inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organised by the government’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, to further integrate finance with industries.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC chairman Frederick Ma delivered welcome remarks at the summit. Ma highlighted Hong Kong's role as a “superconnector” and gateway for mainland enterprises going global and foreign firms entering the China market.

Key discussions included a keynote speech by former European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Hong Kong's role in regional cooperation and a panel where economist Zhu Min spoke on renminbi internationalisation opportunities for the city.

The forum also featured a pledging ceremony with partners including HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong), deal-making sessions connecting investors with over 600 projects, and thematic zones on fintech and green finance.