China's top financial regulators have sent out a consistent signal to address headwinds and curb financial risks at the 2026 Lujiazui Forum, said Chinese and foreign experts.
At this year's Lujiazui Forum, which wrapped up in Shanghai on Thursday, a basket of new measures and signals was announced.
These new measures include improving the short-term interest rate operational framework, expanding the application of the STAR Market's fifth set of standards to the artificial intelligence sector, and implementing a pilot scheme to facilitate outbound investment with cross-border reinsurance income.
An action plan to develop offshore finance at the Shanghai Finance Center was also released.
Regulators from China's banking and securities watchdogs spoke at the forum opening.
Covering currencies, foreign exchange and stock markets, attendees said their addresses sent a consistent message: China intends to strengthen its agenda for expanded opening-up.
"It is really emphasizing on the importance of financial service sector, after all that is the focus of the Lujiazui Forum. Two, I think China is continuing its efforts trying to be more reforming and opening up with both its financial service sector and all overall its economic policy, which I think should be welcomed by the rest of the world," said Zhu Ning, an economist from the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
China has also showed its commitment to curbing financial risks. Vice Premier He Lifeng said during the event that China is committed to forestalling and defusing financial risks.
"Based on previous works and efforts over three years, risks stemming from local government debt, regional small and medium financial institutions and real estate have been effectively eased," He said.
China's economy has long relied on real estate and infrastructure. Yet financial regulators have repeatedly highlighted emerging industries as the next growth driver.
For instance, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the CSRC, backs IPOs of hard-tech firms on the STAR Market. They cover quantum technology, bio-manufacturing and embodied intelligence.
Forum participants, ranging from finance experts to municipal leaders, agree these sectors merit greater investment and policy focus.
"China is clearly leading the way and AI of course comes into that as well, so these are areas where we see fast growth in China which we want to partner with in the City of London," said Chris Hayward, chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Corporation.
"I think China is really doubling down on its efforts trying to push innovation and technological-driven growth models. We have more and more new startup companies in artificial intelligence, in semiconductors, in new energy vehicles, gradually becoming globally important companies," Zhu said.
China's regulators signal commitment to curbing financial risks
