James Chau, president of the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), addresses the media during a press conference on the 2023 Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations in Sheung Wan on Nov 7, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong, serving as a mediator in the US-China relationship, has the potential to facilitate multiple conversations that can lead to a better understanding between the two nations, said a notable NGO leader.

“Forty-five years ago, the world changed for good when the US and China normalized relations, which triggered a new era of economic prosperity,” said James Chau, president of the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), during a press conference held on Tuesday prior to the 2023 Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations.

In addition to the High-Level Plenary, the Hong Kong Forum will feature five panel sessions where experts will shape the discussion on trade and economy, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, global challenges, and international finance 

Taking place from November 9-10, 2023, the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) will host the  “Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations”, its annual flagship event. This year's forum aims to foster an inclusive approach towards finding solutions.

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“While the conditions today are complex, there is no reason why we cannot replicate the same success. The challenges we collectively face are greater than any differences that may exist and, as we mark our 15th anniversary, CUSEF is honored to be in service to the most impactful bilateral relationship globally,” said Chau.

Titled “Change and Progress”, the conference aims to recognize shifts in the bilateral relationship, while embracing the momentum of new optimism to drive results and progress. 

Officials from the Chinese mainland and the United States, along with Nobel Peace Prize winners José Ramos-Horta, the President of Timor-Leste, and Muhammad Yunus, the economist who spearheaded the concepts of microfinance and microcredit, will jointly inaugurate the forum through video participation. 

In addition to the High-Level Plenary, the Hong Kong Forum will feature five panel sessions where experts will shape the discussion on trade and economy, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, global challenges, and international finance. There will also be two roundtables that will address international security and the future of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

“I have every confidence that Hong Kong is not only a participant in the US-China relationship, but can actually be the broker in this relationship because we’re still an international center of commerce,” explained Chau in his assessment of Hong Kong’s position in US-China relations.

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“And to be a Hong Konger is a badge of honor because it means that you are identifying as part of a community that is the gathering point for multiple conversations, different cultures, and different parts of history, and that's the greatest value that Hong Kong has. This international global face and the real global voice of Hong Kong makes it an authentic broker in the US-China relationship,” he elaborated.