Hong Kong will mark a historic moment on Tuesday when the city hosts the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministerial Meeting 2026 for the first time. The meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance and will be held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the arrangements of the SAR government. This major international event is not only a strong affirmation of Hong Kong’s international standing, but also the best platform to showcase the unique advantages of the “one country, two systems” framework.
This year is APEC’s “China Year”. As the host, China oversees the preparation and delivery of the informal leaders’ meeting, alongside a series of ministerial and other meetings. The Finance Ministerial Meeting, themed “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together”, will be held in Hong Kong, fully signifying the nation’s trust and support for the SAR.
China’s engagement under the APEC framework has grown deeper over time, and its influence and credibility have risen steadily. Whether it is promoting multilateral cooperation, advocating sustainable development, or actively upholding the principle of free trade, China has always adhered to the principles and commitment of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, convincing others through sound reasoning and winning the respect of fellow member economies through concrete actions.
Since joining APEC in 1991, Hong Kong has been a vocal advocate on issues ranging from finance and trade to equal rights and free markets. It has consistently rejected unilateralism and called for a fair and open global trading environment without undue barriers. This steadfast stance is not only in line with the nation’s negotiating approach, but also reflects Hong Kong’s responsible commitment to leading by example and abiding by international rules.
Hosting the Finance Ministerial Meeting gives the city a prime opportunity to showcase its strengths to the world, and the government is fully committed. A dedicated task force, headed by the secretary for financial services and the treasury, has been set up to drive the preparatory work. A steering committee, with senior representatives from 20 policy bureaus, departments, and organizations, has also been formed to ensure smooth interdepartmental coordination across all aspects of the meeting arrangements. Every detail, from venues, hotels and transport to security, side events and publicity, is being meticulously handled — a reflection of Hong Kong’s professional capability and urban resilience in hosting world-class conferences.
On the economic front, as a leading international financial center, Hong Kong has over the years taken an active part and occupied an important position in the formulation of international financial standards, regulatory alignment, and discussions on future regulatory frameworks. Financial representatives of the government are active in major international organizations and deeply engaged in rule-making processes. At the same time, Hong Kong’s financial regulators, academics, and think tanks have published a substantial body of influential research on frontier issues, including macroeconomics and digital finance. These efforts underscore Hong Kong’s professional expertise and its credibility in global financial governance.
It is noteworthy that Hong Kong has already emerged as a global front-runner in digital economy legislation and financial innovation. From digital asset regulation to green finance classification standards, the city is actively putting in place a regulatory framework that is both internationally compatible and forward-looking. It not only echoes APEC’s commitment to sustainable development, but also projects to member economies an image of Hong Kong as a rule-setter that is willing to embrace changes and is skilled at forging international alignment.
By successfully hosting the APEC Finance Ministerial Meeting, Hong Kong stands to achieve a dual objective. On the one hand, it will support the nation’s broader efforts by enabling member economies to see firsthand the nation’s constructive and responsible role in regional cooperation. On the other hand, it will strengthen Hong Kong’s standing as an international financial center, demonstrating its unique value in promoting regional financial cooperation and sharing best practices in governance. Beyond serving as a core platform where regional financial policymakers convene to deliberate on collective solutions, the meeting will inject fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s efforts to deepen international ties and cooperation. It will also assist the SAR to better integrate into and serve national development.
Under the “one country, two systems” framework, backed by strong support from central government, Hong Kong’s role as an international financial center continues to grow, with its status consolidated and elevated. The APEC Finance Ministerial Meeting allows participating economies and the global community to experience firsthand the unique charm of Hong Kong as an international metropolis, alongside its advantages of enjoying strong national support and closely linking up with the broader world. It fully exemplifies Hong Kong’s key role as a superconnector and a super value-adder. This is a reflection of the nation’s trust and support for Hong Kong, as well as a unique opportunity for the city to contribute to the nation and serving the broader world.
Personally, as Hong Kong, China’s Alternate Representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council, I firmly believe that Hong Kong will uphold the spirit of openness and mutual benefit to host this event with excellence. With professionalism, fairness, and inclusiveness, we will help bring parties together around shared goals — contributing “Hong Kong’s wisdom” and “nation’s strength” to the sustainable development and long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
The APEC Finance Ministerial Meeting brings together financial chiefs and heads of delegation from member economies, along with representatives of relevant international organizations. This gathering is far more than a conference. It is a declaration to the world that Hong Kong endures as an international financial center that is globally connected, built on sound rules, driven by innovation, and worthy of trust. And underpinning this is the nation’s steady rise in comprehensive strength through regional synergy and high-quality development, which in turn is granting Hong Kong a broader stage and a stronger foundation of confidence.
The author is a member of the Legislative Council (Technology and Innovation Constituency).
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
