The Phoenix Financial Forum for the Greater Bay Area 2026 successfully concluded in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province, on Wednesday, bringing together government officials, scholars and business executives to explore industrial opportunities and development pathways in the intelligent era.
Themed "New Intelligence, New Openness", the forum was hosted by Phoenix Satellite Television and Ifeng.com. It featured opening remarks, keynote speeches and five thematic keynote sessions and roundtable dialogues covering corporate globalization, cross-border asset management and artificial intelligence.
In his opening address, Xu Wei, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Phoenix Satellite Television, emphasized that striving for new heights is not simply chasing newer technologies, but ensuring that technological progress is translated into more inclusive, comprehensive and sustainable development outcomes.
As an international media group, Phoenix Satellite Television pays close attention to how AI can achieve success, but even more so to how it can expand public capabilities and enhance social well-being, said Xu.
Speaking at the opening session, Jiang Xiaojuan, director of the National Data Expert Advisory Committee, said the network digital economy has spawned a "born global" business model, which requires the free flow of capital, technology, talent, venture capital, data and institutional support to achieve the cross-border circulation of elements worldwide.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area possesses matchless advantages compared to other regions, said Jiang, co-chair of the International Advisory Committee of the Global Digital Economy Conference and former deputy secretary-general of the State Council.
Echoing Jiang’s view, Xue Qikun, president of Southern University of Science and Technology, said the Greater Bay Area’s edge lies not only in the industrial application of AI, but also in a dual-wheel drive of empowering basic research with AI and leading industrial upgrading through basic research.
Political and business heavyweights also shared their perspectives during a thematic session on the business expansion trend of Chinese companies shifting “from product outbound to ecosystem outbound.”
Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said China must embrace "Brand Going Global 2.0” as a requirement for high-quality development and a strategic choice for Chinese brands to gain a voice in international markets.
"Manufacturing is the hard power of going global, branding is the soft power, and Hong Kong is the best platform connecting the two," said Choi, describing Hong Kong as a "golden springboard" for Chinese brands reaching the global stage.
Li Xiaojun, Party secretary and chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, explained that ecosystem outbound is not a solitary effort by a single company, but a coordinated outbound effort by the entire industry chain — a systemic output of diversified elements including technology, capital, talent and culture.
Subsequent panel discussions highlighted Hong Kong’s role in cross-border asset management, new quality productive forces across sectors, as well as AI investment and valuation.
As another highlight, the forum announced the winners of the 2026 Phoenix Star Best Listed Companies, honoring 29 companies across seven award categories.
In addition, the 2026 White Paper on Chinese Enterprises Going Overseas: From Products to Ecosystems, AI Reshaping Global Competitiveness was launched for the first time in the event, offering an analysis on how AI reshapes corporate globalization.
