Hong Kong is all set to hold the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministerial Meeting beginning on Tuesday, bringing together about 500 financial policymakers and representatives of international organizations for two days of discussions.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Monday met with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi, who is in the special administrative region for the meeting, to exchange views with officials on further strengthening regional financial cooperation.
Those who attend the Finance Ministerial Meeting also include finance ministers and senior financial officials from APEC member economies, as well as representatives of the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu told China Daily in an interview.
This meeting will help prepare fiscal and financial outcomes for the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, next month.
Hosting APEC for the third time, China has set "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" as this year's theme, with openness, innovation and cooperation as its priorities.
HKSAR officials and academics said they hope the gathering of finance ministers from the 21 APEC member economies will boost regional cooperation and deepen international engagement.
Clement Woo Kin-man, undersecretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, said cooperation, peace and security are essential foundations for economic growth amid profound global changes.
"Discussions on economic and social development at the meeting are expected to offer hope for the future. This will be an important message for people everywhere," he said.
Wang Yanbo, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong's Business School, said holding the meeting in the SAR reflects the confidence of both the country and the city in opening-up, globalization and closer engagement with the global community.
The meeting will also offer a valuable opportunity to explore how finance and technological innovation could be more closely integrated, he said.
A senior official with the Ministry of Finance said in a recent interview that China has proposed four key topics for the talks — fiscal policies that support livelihoods, financing for digital infrastructure, tailored approaches to promoting inclusive financial development, and young financial talent exchange.
Hui chairs a high-level steering committee established earlier this year to coordinate cross-departmental cooperation in preparing for the conference. The HKSAR government has also been working closely with the Ministry of Finance on the arrangements, he said.
ALSO READ: HK leader sets out APEC Finance Ministerial Meeting 2026 agenda
"Under the leadership of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, the HKSAR government attaches great importance to the preparations for the Finance Ministerial Meeting to support our country in successfully hosting APEC 2026," Hui said.
Along with the formal meetings, the HKSAR government will arrange a welcome dinner, seminars, study visits and tours to provide delegates with a rich and varied conference experience.
Gaby Lin, Zhou Tong and Tina Huang contributed to this story.
