Published: 10:22, January 27, 2026 | Updated: 13:27, January 27, 2026
Forging the future
By Wang Zhan in Hong Kong
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (center) joins other attendees at the opening of the 19th Asian Financial Forum's Global Business Summit at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)
The 19th Asian Financial Forum continued on Tuesday morning in Hong Kong with its signature Global Business Summit and discussions on forging the future global marketplace.
The summit included keynote speeches and panel discussions to dissect how industry sectors with high growth potential would impact the global economy and financial services.
It also featured speeches on exploring Chinese mainland opportunities and a plenary discussion on mainland companies going global, which convened Chinese multinational corporations to understand their stories in utilizing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a launching pad to connect with overseas markets.
The two-day flagship forum, co-hosted by the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, opened on Monday and is expected to gather over 3,600 business leaders, officials, and financial experts from more than 60 countries and regions.
China Daily's Adam Lam took these photos on Tuesday.
Financial Secretaryb Paul Chan Mo-po delivers his opening remarks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)(From left ) Victor L. L. Chu, chairman & CEO, First Eastern Investment Group; Brian Gu, vice-chairman and co-president, XPENG; Daniel Li, vice-chairman, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group; Li Zhenguo, founder and chief technology officer, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co, Ltd; Liu Qian, founder and chief executive officer, Wusawa Advisory, Inc; Toby Xu, chief financial officer, Alibaba Group; John Zhang, president, Seres Group Co, Ltd; and Zhang Qian, executive director and president, Shanghai Industrail Investial Investment (Holdings) Co, Ltd; attend the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Victor L. L. Chu, chairman & CEO, First Eastern Investment Group, gestures as he joins the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Brian Gu, vice-chairman and co-president, XPENG, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Daniel Li, vice-chairman, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Li Zhenguo, founder and chief technology officer, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co, Ltd, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Liu Qian, founder and chief executive officer, Wusawa Advisory, Inc, gestures as she joins the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Toby Xu, chief financial officer, Alibaba Group, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)John Zhang, president, Seres Group Co, Ltd, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Zhang Qian, executive director and president, Shanghai Industrail Investial Investment (Holdings) Co, Ltd, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Frederick S Ma, chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), delivers his opening remarks during the the Asian Financial Forum 2026's Global Business Summit at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Zhang Wenwu, vice-chairman and president, CITIC Group, delivers the keynote speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2026 s Global Business Summit discussion on exploring Chinese mainland opportunities at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/ CHINA DAILY)Wu Wei, executive vice-mayor, The People's Government of Shanghai Municipality, The People's Republic of China, delivers a speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2025's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on exploring Chinese mainland opportunities at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Tang Zhiping, vice-governor, The People's Government of Shanxi Province, The People's Republic of China, delivers a speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2025's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on exploring Chinese mainland opportunities at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Wang Junshou, vice-governor, The People's Government of Hunan Province, The People's Republic of China,delivers a speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2025's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on exploring Chinese mainland opportunities at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Lim Lork Piseth, secretary of state of the Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia, delivers a speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2025's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Younis Al Khoori, undersecretary, Ministry of Finance United Arab Emirates, delivers a speech during the Asian Financial Forum's Global Business Summit plenary discussion on Chinese mainland enterprises going global at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)(From left) Andrew Weir, vice-chairman, Financial Services Development Council (FSDC); Bonnie Y Chan, chief executive officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX); Joseph Chan, under secretary for financial services and the treasury; Mike Wardle, chief executive officer, Z/Yen Group; Jerry Zhang, global head of banks and broker dealers head of coverage, corporate and investment banking, Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered; attend the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Benjamin Hung, chairman, Financial Services Development Council, delivers the keynote speech during the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Mary Huen, chief executive officer, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, delivers her welcome remarks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026's breakfast panel discussion on the theme :The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/ CHINA DAILY)Andrew Weir, vice-chairman, Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY) Bonnie Y Chan, chief executive officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Joseph Chan Ho-lim, under secretary for financial services and the treasury, gestures as he participates in the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Mike Wardle, chief executive officer, Z/Yen Group, gestures as he participates in the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)Jerry Zhang, global head of banks and broker dealers and head of coverage, corporate and investment banking, Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum 2026 breakfast panel discussion on the theme "The Nexus of Capital: Forging the Future Global Marketplace" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Jan 27, 2026. (ADAM LAM/CHINA DAILY)
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