Hong Kong can capitalize on its unique advantages as a world financial center to provide comprehensive investment and financing support for Thailand’s enterprises, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Saturday.
He made the remarks during talks in Bangkok with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas on strengthening economic, trade and financial cooperation between Thailand and the special administrative region.
The two sides explored ways to deepen cooperation and connect foreign direct investment in Thailand with the SAR’s capital market to further support enterprises investing and expanding their businesses in the kingdom.
Hong Kong also welcomed closer regulatory cooperation between the two securities markets to encourage dual listings by enterprises from both places and boost capital market ties.
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With enterprises from the Chinese mainland accelerating their international expansion and increasing investments in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong could further enhance its bridging role by matching China’s technological power with Thailand’s industrial development needs, thereby fostering investment and industrial cooperation, Chan said.
Thanking the Thai minister for agreeing to visit Hong Kong for next week’s 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Meeting, Chan also invited him to attend the Asian Financial Forum to be held in the SAR in January next year to elevate economic, trade and financial ties between the two places and across the region and jointly explore new opportunities for cooperation.
On the last day of his three-day visit to Bangkok, Chan also met the chief executive officer and senior management of a major French bank with extensive operations in Hong Kong.
They exchanged views on developments in the fixed income and currency markets in Hong Kong and the region, green and sustainable finance, tokenized financial products, as well as asset-and-wealth management.
Chan welcomed the French bank’s continued expansion in the SAR and using the city as a key hub for developing its regional business, tapping into the opportunities offered by Hong Kong as an international financial center.
The financial secretary traveled to the Thai capital on Thursday for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group as a member of the Chinese delegation.
He also met with financial officials from various economies and senior executives of the IMF, the World Bank Group and international financial firms to exchange views on the global and regional economic and financial situations.
