Hong Kong's Asian Financial Forum Unites Global Leaders to Shape Finance's Future

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) has officially launched in Hong Kong, co-organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), with the theme "Co-creating New Horizons amid an Evolving Landscape" and a new tagline "Finance Empowering Business." This premier event has gathered over 150 global leaders as speakers, including government officials, business executives, and financial regulators, and is expected to attract more than 3,600 participants from over 60 countries. Key figures such as Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman; John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; and Zou Lan, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, delivered opening remarks, emphasizing Hong Kong's role as a superconnector between the Chinese Mainland and international markets. The forum features over 40 sessions, including Plenary Sessions on fostering cooperation and charting the future of finance, with speakers like Zou Jiayi of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Julia Leung of the Securities and Futures Commission. A special focus on gold trading aims to promote Hong Kong as an international gold exchange, while new sessions on supply chain financing and a Global Business Summit explore finance's integration with high-growth industries like AI, robotics, and green energy.

Highlights of the forum include the AFF Deal-making platform, which connects over 280 investors with 560 projects across sectors such as Environment, Energy and Clean Technology, Healthcare Technology, and Financial Technology. Exhibitions like the InnoVenture Salon & FintechHK Start-up Salon and the new FutureGreen Showcase feature about 150 exhibitors, including first-time participants like Ardian and Federated Hermes, showcasing cutting-edge financial concepts. The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organized with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will delve into how financial services can drive innovation in sectors like biomedicine and green energy, with support from companies such as Amgen, Tencent, and XPENG. Additionally, the forum offers guided tours and cultural experiences through partnerships with organizations like the Hong Kong Tourism Board, enhancing the international appeal of Hong Kong as a financial hub. The event is part of International Financial Week 2026, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a proactive growth orchestrator in the global economy.

Insights from sessions like the Panel Discussion on Asset and Wealth Management, moderated by Amy Lo of UBS, explored how artificial intelligence can enhance investment decisions and integrate ESG factors, while CIO Insights provided analysis on asset allocation trends. The Global Spectrum - Pension and Endowment session discussed strategies for retirement funds in volatile markets, featuring speakers from State Street and the Government Pension Fund of Thailand. A survey by HKTDC and EY, the AFF Knowledge Partner, highlighted Hong Kong's evolution from a super-connector to a growth orchestrator, offering recommendations for businesses to build resilience and leverage Hong Kong for global expansion. The forum's comprehensive approach, from policy discussions to practical deal-making, underscores its mission to advance international financial cooperation and support sustained innovation, making it a pivotal event for shaping the future of finance in Asia and beyond.