19th Asian Financial Forum Concludes, Showcasing Hong Kong's Role in Financial Empowerment and Global Integration

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), jointly organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully after drawing over 4,000 leaders from governments and business sectors across more than 60 countries and regions. The forum featured over 150 speakers, including financial officials, multilateral organization leaders, and representatives from financial institutions and enterprises, who engaged in exchanges on trending topics during various sessions including Plenary Sessions, Keynote Luncheons, and thematic workshops. The event marked the beginning of International Financial Week 2026 and launched the inaugural Global Business Summit to further integrate finance with key industries, driving innovation and economic development while strengthening Hong Kong's role through financial empowerment.

At the Keynote Luncheon, Dr. Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Goldman Sachs International, delivered a speech on Hong Kong's pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation and how Asia can draw on Europe's experience to deepen economic integration. Dr. Barroso emphasized the technological race creating instability and how global corporations are positioning themselves facing geopolitical and technological risks. During the Panel Discussion on Global Economic Outlook, Dr. Zhu Min, Member of the Senior Expert Advisory Committee of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, discussed opportunities that renminbi internationalization will bring to Hong Kong, noting that Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to provide liquidity and bond market services amid competition among major currencies.

A significant milestone was achieved when the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange, establishing a high-level cooperative governance framework for Hong Kong's central gold clearing system and exploring opportunities for coordinated development of physical infrastructure. This initiative represents an important step forward in Hong Kong's development as an international gold trading hub. The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), featured welcome remarks from Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma, who emphasized Hong Kong's role as a superconnector between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world under the "One Country, Two Systems" arrangement.

A Pledging Ceremony demonstrated the commitment of the HKSAR Government, HKTDC, and AFF Partners in assisting Chinese mainland enterprises in going global via the Hong Kong platform. AFF Partners included EY, HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Standard Chartered, UBS, CICC, Huatai Securities, Bank of Communication (Hong Kong), and China CITIC Bank International. During the summit, plenary sessions focused on Chinese mainland enterprises going global and strategic collaboration for shared growth, featuring business leaders from companies like XPENG, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, LONGi Green Energy, Alibaba Group, and Seres Group discussing global expansion strategies amid macroeconomic shifts. International business executives from institutions including China Investment Corporation, Banking Circle, Infineon AG, Investcorp, JP Morgan, Revolut, and Triton Partners examined how international companies can develop new business roadmaps in the Chinese mainland through investment, partnerships, and joint ventures, with Mohammed Alardhi of Investcorp highlighting the vital China-Gulf Cooperation Council corridor and appetite in the Gulf region to partner with Chinese companies.

The summit featured discussion sessions covering high-growth sectors including biomedicine and healthcare, green energy, new consumer trends, artificial intelligence, and robotics. In sessions like "Biomedicine 2026: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities," companies including Amgen and Merck emphasized the need for diversified financing channels to accelerate technological translation. AI-focused sessions featured leaders from DexForce Technology, JD.com, and Pictet Group discussing scalable application strategies, while sessions on AI-driven robotics included insights from AI² Robotics, Galbot, and Tencent on transforming sectors like healthcare and manufacturing. AFF conducted real-time polling revealing that over 70% of attendees were neutral to optimistic about the global economic outlook, with 51.2% prioritizing artificial intelligence development followed by energy transition at 20.3%.

The HKTDC positioned AFF as a vital platform for facilitating international investment, with AFF Deal-making attracting over 280 investors and 600 investment projects resulting in more than 800 one-on-one meetings. Project Investment Sessions highlighted strategic initiatives including the Northern Metropolis, SKYTOPIA Airport City development, and the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. A notable collaboration was facilitated by the HKTDC Sydney Office, where Hong Kong's Techvalue International and Australia's Gryph Holdings signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture launching innovative plant-based products, first in Papua New Guinea before expanding to Australian and New Zealand markets. The forum featured four thematic zones including the FutureGreen Showcase, FintechHK Start-up Salon, InnoVenture Salon, and Global Investment Zone with approximately 150 exhibitors such as EY, HSBC, and Bank of China (Hong Kong), while roundtable meetings including the Hong Kong International Fundraising Roundtable 2026 and Attracting Strategic Enterprises roundtable provided platforms for discussing financing needs and expansion opportunities. International Financial Week 2026 continues with 14 industry events covering topics including ASEAN opportunities, digital finance, and green finance, underscoring Hong Kong's role as a comprehensive international financial centre. More information about the forum is available at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/.