The Phoenix Financial Forum for the Greater Bay Area 2025, themed "New Landscape, New Roadmaps", was successfully held in Guangzhou from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The forum brought together government officials, consuls general from various countries stationed in Guangzhou, business leaders, and financial and economic experts to jointly analyze the evolving global landscape and explore new opportunities for development. 

The two-day event included the Awards Ceremony of 2025 Phoenix Star Best Listed Companies on Tuesday, followed by the opening ceremony on Wednesday and six sessions of keynote speeches and panel discussions centered around global trade, corporate globalization, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and other key topics.

In his opening remarks, Xu Wei, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Phoenix Satellite Television, emphasized Guangzhou’s historical role as a hub connecting China with the world. 

“Guangzhou, known as the ‘Millennium Commercial Metropolis,’ has always been a vital link between China and the globe. Hosting this forum in such an era — where challenges and opportunities coexist and the global landscape is rapidly transforming — is aimed at forging new pathways, exploring new horizons, anchoring direction among diverse possibilities, and building consensus across varied voices.”

He added, “Phoenix Satellite Television has a mission to promote Chinese culture and foster international exchange. We are not only recorders of events and storytellers, but also bridges of culture, messengers of cooperation, and companions on the journey forward. We are willing to work with all of you, using this forum as a starting point, to ensure continuous communication and let shared understanding illuminate the path ahead.”

Global trade order undergoing profound transformation

The global economic and trade landscape is currently undergoing significant changes. Amid overlapping impacts of rule restructuring, geopolitical rivalry, and technological revolution, rising protectionism and the regionalization of supply chains are accelerating the reshaping of international trade order. 

During the session titled “Reconstructing the New Global Trade Landscape”, former Vice-Minister of Commerce and member of the Senior Experts Advisory Committee of China Center for International Economic Exchanges Wei Jianguo, former Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China Li Dongrong, and Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Cheung Kwok-kwan delivered keynote speeches analyzing critical issues such as the transformation of the global trade structure and the development of financial openness.

Wei noted that increasing geopolitical complexity and the rise of trade protectionism have heightened uncertainties and costs for businesses. Moreover, there is a clear trend toward the regionalization and shortening of global industrial, supply, and value chains. In response to the new trade environment, Chinese enterprises must reconfigure their strategies, enhance competitiveness through innovation and branding, and adapt to the evolving landscape.

Li stressed that finance has always been a key driver behind shifts in the global trade structure and continues to play a crucial role in boosting national economic development and international competitiveness. “Every transformation in the global trade order has been underpinned by financial forces — the invisible hand. Only by understanding and mastering the fundamental laws of finance can we better grasp the trajectory of global trade and tackle future challenges.”

Cheung highlighted that mainland enterprises venturing overseas require high-level cross-border professional services. The Hong Kong SAR government will leverage its unique strengths, further focus on institutional development, and closely collaborate with the mainland. By integrating Hong Kong’s professional service resources according to the specific needs of different regions and industries, it aims to provide mainland companies with reliable and internationally minded “Hong Kong Navigation Solutions for Going Global”.

Exploring multilateral cooperation and corporate globalization

A roundtable dialogue featuring Sarah Mann, British consul general in Guangzhou; Yoshiko Kijima, Japanese consul general in Guangzhou; Cahit Bagci, Turkish consul general in Guangzhou; and Michael Kelly, executive director of the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University, engaged in cross-border discussions to uncover new possibilities for global economic and trade cooperation.

The reshaping of the global trade structure is also propelling Chinese enterprises into a new phase of globalization — transitioning from a “first half” focused on scale expansion to a “second half” emphasizing value deepening. Key breakthroughs now include smart manufacturing exports, localized operations, and compliance risk management, while traditional go-global pathways are undergoing systemic transformation.

To decode innovative models and practical pathways for corporate globalization, the forum featured a special session titled “New Pathways for Corporate Globalization,” with keynote speeches from Standing Committee member of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, XPeng Motors Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng, GAC International General Manager Wei Haigang, and Guangzhou Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Chairman Wang Yonghui. They explored high-quality and sustainable models for global expansion, offering practical insights for corporate globalization strategies in complex environments.

Choi stated that China still has a long way to go in terms of brand strength and global enterprise outreach. 

“With joint efforts, we hope to build Hong Kong — under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework — into a powerful booster for Chinese enterprises going global, a two-way golden bridge for Chinese brands to reach the world and international brands to enter China, and a vast platform where Chinese standards and brand norms serve and lead the world.”

Digital finance and AI: Transforming industries and economies

Beyond the evolving trade landscape, the forum also highlighted how digital technology is becoming a core force reshaping the financial system.

With the accelerated development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) globally and the gradual improvement of regulatory frameworks for private digital currencies, cross-border payments, monetary sovereignty, and financial security are facing profound transformations.  The panel analyzed the opportunities and challenges emerging from the evolution of digital financial infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence, as a core driver of the new wave of industrial transformation, continues to unlock new frontiers of integrated applications. To decode the convergence pathways and value creation logic of “AI+”, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications in the United Arab Emirates and Director General of the Prime Minister's Office Omar Sultan Al Olama delivered a keynote speech on “AI+: The New Wave, The New Frontier.” He emphasized that the only way to shape the future is by actively participating in building the tools that will define it.

China’s market outlook and investment discussions

Against the backdrop of global capital flow restructuring and China’s ongoing economic transformation, whether the Chinese market is entering a new growth cycle has become a focal point for global investors. Speakers discussed “Bullish on China: A Decade-Long Bull Market?” from both macro trends and investment practice perspectives, interpreting the logic behind the value reassessment of Chinese assets.

The forum concluded with a closing dialogue between Wu Xiaoqiu, director of the National Institute of Financial Research at Renmin University of China and National Level-One Professor, and Liu Jipeng, professor and doctoral advisor at China University of Political Science and Law. They offered in-depth insights on a range of current hot topics in the capital markets.

The Phoenix Financial Forum for the Greater Bay Area 2025 continues to serve as a high-level platform for dialogue and collaboration, fostering mutual understanding and innovative solutions in an era of global transformation.