The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded on 27 January 2026, drawing over 4,000 global leaders from more than 60 countries and regions to Hong Kong. Jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the forum focused on the theme, “Co-Creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape.”
The two-day event featured over 150 speakers, including financial institution representatives and multilateral organisation leaders. It also introduced the inaugural Global Business Summit, aimed at integrating finance with key industries to drive innovation, economic development, and Hong Kong’s continued positioning as a global financial hub.
Key highlights included:
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Strategic Dialogue and Partnerships: Dr José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, highlighted Hong Kong’s role in regional cooperation. Dr Zhu Min of China’s Center for International Economic Exchanges emphasised opportunities from renminbi internationalisation.
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Cross-Border Collaboration: The Financial Services and Treasury Bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to strengthen Hong Kong–Shanghai gold market ties. The Global Business Summit focused on helping Mainland enterprises expand internationally and on foreign investment into China.
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High-Growth Sectors: Panels covered AI, robotics, green energy, biomedicine, and healthcare. Leaders from JD.com, Tencent, Amgen, and Merck discussed opportunities, investment priorities, and commercialising technology in real-world industries.
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Deal-Making & Investment: AFF facilitated over 800 one-on-one investment meetings, connecting 280 investors with 600+ projects. Notable outcomes included a Hong Kong–Australia joint venture in plant-based food technology.
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Green Innovation: The FutureGreen Showcase highlighted solutions for green finance, carbon-credit management, ESG monitoring, and climate-risk assessment.
AFF also conducted real-time polls showing strong optimism for the global economy and prioritisation of AI development, energy transition, and sustainable growth.
The forum reinforced Hong Kong’s role as a gateway for global finance, investment, and cross-border collaboration, combining strategic dialogue, technological innovation, and sustainable development initiatives. Online platforms for continued deal-making were launched to maintain momentum in international cooperation throughout 2026.
