Li Jiachao: Hong Kong will continue to promote the prosperity and stability of regional economic cooperation

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on October 21, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, met with Minister of Finance Lan Foan at the Protocol House to exchange views on the economic and financial development of the mainland and Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Chan Mao-po, Deputy Financial Secretary Wong Wai Lun, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Hui Ching-yu, also attended. Li Jiachao sincerely thanked the country for its trust and support for Hong Kong and its high recognition of Hong Kong's status as an international financial center. Hong Kong actively seizes the Finance Ministers Meeting as a platform for international exchanges, showcases the unique advantages of internal and external communication, and deepens economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with APEC members. As the engine of global economic growth, the Asia-Pacific region is shouldering greater responsibilities in the face of multiple challenges in world economic growth. Hong Kong will continue to play the role of “super collaborator” and “super value-added person” to jointly promote regional economic cooperation and prosperity and stability.

Li Jiachao said that the country's “15th Five-Year Plan” supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial center. The SAR government announced the “Hong Kong First Five-Year Plan” and “Policy Address” last month, actively connecting with the national development strategy, further developing RMB and commodity trading business, and consolidating Hong Kong's international competitive advantage. Hong Kong will continue to promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong's international financial center, deepen connectivity with mainland financial markets, and serve the country's high level of financial openness to the outside world.

Li Jiachao said that the Ministry of Finance has issued RMB treasury bonds in Hong Kong for many years, and issued RMB green sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for the first time this year, helping to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as a global offshore RMB business hub. The HKSAR Government continues to promote the development of the Hong Kong bond market, promote the internationalization of the RMB and improve a sustainable financial ecosystem. Mainland financial institutions can take advantage of Hong Kong's international market, professional services and talents to further expand their business. Furthermore, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will soon set up an office in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong will continue to actively support the AIIB's work as an AIIB member.

Li Jiachao welcomed and thanked Minister Lan Foan for leading a delegation to Hong Kong to host the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers Meeting (Finance Ministers Meeting). The Finance Ministers Meeting was the last professional ministerial meeting before the APEC Informal Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen in November this year. It is of great significance in contributing to the results of the APEC “China Year” financial channel. The country is the host of APEC this year. This year's Finance Ministers Meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Finance and hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for the first time. Since yesterday, it has been successfully held in Hong Kong for 2 consecutive days. During that time, further frank and in-depth exchanges were held on key issues in the financial field, and a series of practical results were reached.

The conference approved and issued the “2026 APEC Finance Ministers Joint Statement” and the “Asia-Pacific Digital Infrastructure Financing Policy Statement” to clarify the direction and provide guidance for Asia-Pacific economies to deepen financial cooperation. The conference deepened the consensus of all parties on three aspects. One is to strengthen macroeconomic policy communication and coordination to jointly address external risks and challenges; the second is to promote practical cooperation in the financial field to help the long-term sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific economy; and the third is to deepen the process of regional integration and promote the establishment of an Asia-Pacific community. At the same time, the conference formed two professional field outcome documents and summarized APEC young financial talent exchange and cooperation projects.