HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HONG KONG, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadailyhk.com:

High-level officials and society leaders gathered in Hong Kong on Thursday for a major conference on integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with keynote speakers highlighting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's role as a "super connector" between the Chinese mainland and global markets amid rapidly shifting geopolitical and technological landscapes.

The conference, themed "New Dynamics in Asia-Pacific Cooperation, New Opportunities for GBA Connectivity", was co-organized by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition, bringing together nearly 300 government officials, consuls general, business leaders and representatives from think tanks, academia and media, as well as public-private sector experts from across Asia.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that collaborative initiatives unveiled recently in data and healthcare between Hong Kong and Nansha in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, underscore the unique role of Hong Kong as a partner and super connector linking the Greater Bay Area with the rest of the world.

He said the steps to be taken are clear and necessary — to promote better government-to-business and business-to-business interactions between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

"The new momentum generated in recent months through cooperation between Guangdong cities in the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong will benefit other Asia-Pacific countries and regions," Leung said.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a video speech that the Greater Bay Area is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and integrated economic powerhouses in the world, underscoring Hong Kong's role as the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage.

Lee said that this role takes on new significance this year, as the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong, in November, a historic first for the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong will host the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in October. He added that the region is ready for the spotlight.

Lee said that Hong Kong has a deep and liquid market and a strong pool of financial and professional talent, and the city has become Asia's premier fundraising, asset management and risk management hub.

He said the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is key to turning cutting-edge ideas into tangible outcomes and world-class research into products, by bringing together Hong Kong's research excellence and the Chinese mainland's advanced manufacturing capabilities.

He added that talent is central to Hong Kong's innovation and technology push, while highlighting the "one town, five elements" framework for the Northern Metropolis University Town Area — a hub where universities, research institutes and industries will be set up together to integrate the five elements of education, technology, talent, industry and urban development.

"Integrating into and serving overall national development, Hong Kong brings together ideas, capital and talent across boundaries, and connects the Greater Bay Area with global markets. Together, we are not just building the Greater Bay Area. We are shaping a more connected, innovative and prosperous future," Lee said.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said that the China Daily Hong Kong Edition has chronicled Hong Kong's remarkable voyage — enduring storms, celebrating triumphs and now recording a new era of transformation from stability to prosperity, aligned with the vibrant rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"Amid shifting communication landscapes and unprecedented global change, we will continue to share the living story of and contribute to this 'one country, two systems', the dynamism of the Greater Bay Area and China's unwavering commitment to an open global economy," he said.

Qu also said that he believes that Hong Kong will continue to innovate, leap forward and forge new heights of achievement with its first five-year plan, which is scheduled to be published on Sept 16.

Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stressed connectivity and Hong Kong's role in connecting the world in an age of profound change driven by geopolitics and technological transformation.

"As the country's most internationally connected region, the Greater Bay Area presents a strong value proposition for Asia-Pacific collaboration," Chan said. "It rests on a simple conviction: When we partner, we do not merely add up our strengths — we multiply them and extend their reach well beyond Asia."

The conference also featured three panel discussions on Hong Kong's financial opportunities in the changing Asia-Pacific landscape, the synergy in commercial aerospace development between the HKSAR and Shenzhen, and education in the artificial intelligence era.

Panelists highlighted how Hong Kong can seize opportunities arising from deeper Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation to enhance its influence as a global financial hub.

Discussions also centered on harnessing the Greater Bay Area's manufacturing capabilities and Hong Kong's strengths, exploring ways to build a collaborative commercial space ecosystem.

Panelists also examined how the education sector can reinvent its model with AI to cultivate talent that serves the Greater Bay Area and the Asia-Pacific market.

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HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HK's superconnector role highlighted at major GBA conference

HONG KONG, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 8, Bank of China (Hong Kong) ("BOCHK") and World Wide Fund for Nature ("WWF") jointly organised the "BOCHK Green Forum 2026 & Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia". Themed "Together for Green: Empowering Corporates and Individuals across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia", this flagship event of Hong Kong Green Week 2026 attracted over 200 policymakers, representatives of international organisations, experts, scholars and industry leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange insights on green finance innovation, low-carbon transition and sustainable development, and explore innovative practices in green finance. The forum also provided a practical and efficient platform for green finance cooperation among the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, promoting cross-border collaboration and experience sharing to accelerate the region's green transition.

The forum commenced with welcome remarks by Wang Huabin, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, followed by keynote speeches by Li Xia, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China; Li Xiaowen, Director of Women Workers Committee at National Committee of Chinese Financial Workers' Union; Arthur Yuen, Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority ("HKMA"); Matteo Marinelli, Asia Pacific Lead of Sustainable Finance at WWF International; and Shane Edwards, Head of APAC Client Coverage at MSCI, on a wide range of topics covering green finance development trends, opportunities for regional cooperation and pathways for sustainable transition.

During the forum, two research reports were unveiled, namely The Asian Way: Sustainable Finance Market Outlook in Southeast Asia and the Role of Hong Kong (Second Edition), jointly released by the Hong Kong Financial Research Institute of Bank of China, MSCI Institute and HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute; and Hong Kong Climate Awareness: Public Understanding, Risk Perception and Readiness for a Low-Carbon Future, published in collaboration between BOCHK and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University ("PolyU"). The two research reports focus respectively on the latest trend in green development across Southeast Asia and the Greater Bay Area, and on Hong Kong residents' understanding of climate change and preferences for green financial products. Together, they provide valuable insights to support green finance and sustainable development. Professor Lin Chen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Business) of the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Wong Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, attended the respective research report launch sessions as guest speakers.

The forum also featured a Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia, where industry leaders from major Southeast Asian banks shared case studies on green finance initiatives. This was followed by an exchange session involving experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, the HKMA and the Asian Development Bank, as well as scholars from local and overseas tertiary institutions, who shed valuable insights on the cases presented.

Wang Huabin, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, "Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and no country or region can tackle it alone. We must work together through regional cooperation to address this challenge. As cooperation on sustainable development continues to deepen among the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, as a pioneer in sustainable finance, is well positioned to support its Asian partners with mature solutions and contribute to advancing green finance across Asia. At BOCHK, sustainable development lies at the heart of our strategy. Leveraging our extensive network across nine ASEAN countries, we actively connect regional green projects with international capital, helping to channel financial resources to where they are most needed. We will continue to bring together the efforts of corporates and individuals across the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to advance sustainable development. Together, we can chart the way forward in the global green transition and support climate action in the region and beyond through the power of finance."

Li Xia, Deputy Director General of Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center at Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, said, "Green finance is a critical pillar in achieving global climate goals and advancing sustainable development. Under the theme 'Together for Green', today's forum is not only a timely response to one of the defining challenges of our time for regional green growth, but also a powerful declaration of collective action. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, possesses unique strengths in green finance and is well positioned to become a leading green finance hub in Asia and beyond, playing an indispensable role in channelling domestic and international capital towards green projects. Looking ahead, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will continue to work with partners, including BOCHK, to support Hong Kong's development as an international green finance centre and to guide more private capital towards projects and initiatives that generate genuine green value."

Li Xiaowen, Director of Women Workers Committee at National Committee of Chinese Financial Workers' Union, said, "Green finance in the new era has evolved beyond the traditional focus on green lending. Drawing on the experience of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a number of scalable and replicable green finance models have emerged, demonstrating the value of cross-sector collaboration. A notable example is the alignment of green standards across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, which leverages Hong Kong's strengths as an international green finance hub to align with international standards and facilitate the mutual recognition of green projects between the Chinese Mainland and international markets. These efforts provide valuable experience for the development of green finance nationwide."

Matteo Marinelli, Asia Pacific Lead of Sustainable Finance at WWF International, said, "We live in a nature-based economy – our economies, well-being and prosperity all depend on our most precious asset: nature. To support the acceleration of science-based landscape conservation in places where WWF works, WWF leverages a full set of complementary financial tools and solutions. For instance, applying the Landscape Finance Approach, combining both greening finance and financing green, will require funding for implementation across key landscapes. Unlocking private capital is essential to closing the nature finance gap. Looking ahead, WWF sees strong potential to collaborate with Chinese and ASEAN financial institutions — strengthening dialogue among regulators, promoting financial flows towards climate and nature through innovative facilities, and working with partners such as BOCHK to help companies navigate ESG and compliance requirements in the region. Together, our joint efforts to redirect finance towards nature would ensure a thriving planet for generations to come."

Shane Edwards, Head of APAC Client Coverage at MSCI, said, "Sustainable finance in Asia is entering its next phase. Investors are becoming more selective about where they deploy capital, while climate and sustainability ambitions are becoming more deeply embedded in investment and financing decisions. The complementary strengths and needs of markets across Asia create significant opportunities for greater regional cooperation. Hong Kong is well placed to connect these opportunities with capital and expertise. At MSCI, our indexes, data and risk models help institutional investors better understand the opportunities and risks involved, supporting more informed investment decisions towards the transition."

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

"BOCHK Green Forum 2026 & Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia" Promotes Cross-border Collaboration to Advance Regional Green Transition

"BOCHK Green Forum 2026 & Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia" Promotes Cross-border Collaboration to Advance Regional Green Transition