The 7th US-China Hong Kong Forum will be held from Nov 15 to 17 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with a special session to commemorate Tung Chee-hwa, the former chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR and an initiator of the forum.

The Hong Kong SAR’s role as a superconnector positions it to debate diplomatic issues and arrive at business, academic and community decisions, ensuring it has “a very valuable contribution to make” in advancing China-US relations, the forum’s organizer, the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), said at a news conference on Tuesday.

As this will be the first edition of the forum to be held since Tung’s death in September, its theme — “Tomorrow Will Be Better Than Today” — echoes a belief held by Tung, who also founded the CUSEF in 2008, said James Chau, president of the CUSEF.

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During the event, a brief video will be played as a tribute to Tung and his dedication to peace and cooperation.

Chau highlighted the forum’s significance this year, as it is scheduled prior to the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which will be held in Shenzhen on Nov 18 and 19, and coincides with the 25th anniversary of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. It also anticipates the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland in 2027.

He said he hopes the forum will “connect high-level diplomacy with the wider dialogue that we need to carry forward”.

The three-day forum, co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, will convene global diplomatic, government, business and academic leaders to explore how diplomatic engagement can build lasting stability and cooperation, focusing on key topics that will shape future Sino-US relations, such as geopolitical stability, economic interdependence, international exchange, and the impact of artificial intelligence on children.

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Known for being an international city that connects the East and the West, Hong Kong “does really well” at creating an environment conducive to dialogue, especially people-to-people exchange, and provides a strong platform to link diplomatic discussions with the decisions facing businesses, universities, communities and young people, Chau said.

Chau added that given Hong Kong’s unique status, shifts in China-US relations and the wider international landscape will also affect the city’s development in areas like trade, investment and technology. He called on the city to monitor these changes closely and respond proactively.

To that end, the organizers have arranged a dedicated session to be held at the forum on Hong Kong’s role and the challenges it faces amid evolving China-US relations, at which experts and stakeholders from home and abroad will explore what it means for Hong Kong to live among competing systems and powers.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com