Financial Secretary Attends AIIB Annual Meeting in Qatar to Explore Cooperation Opportunities

FS attends AIIB Annual Meeting in Qatar

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Doha, Qatar, yesterday (September 28, Doha time), attending activities related to the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He also met with representatives from various countries and organisations to explore issues including infrastructure financing, digital public infrastructure, investment and economic co-operation.

Mr Chan attended the opening ceremony of the Annual Meeting yesterday and participated in the official session of the AIIB Board of Governors and the Governors' Business Roundtable. At the roundtable, he spoke on how the AIIB could deepen and broaden its support for member economies. He said that strengthening climate resilience and developing digital infrastructure were becoming increasingly urgent priorities for economies. Translating these development needs into concrete projects requires not only financial support but also the capacity to plan and implement projects throughout their life cycle. Alongside providing financing, the AIIB could further promote knowledge and experience sharing among members, strengthen support for project planning and preparation, and help members enhance their project management and implementation capabilities to bring infrastructure projects to fruition.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong, China, would continue to support the AIIB in helping members undertake preparatory work for infrastructure projects, creating favourable conditions for financing and smooth implementation to achieve development goals. He also welcomed the AIIB's establishment of an office in Hong Kong, saying that Hong Kong would actively support its work and leverage its strengths as an international financial centre and a provider of professional services to advance regional infrastructure and sustainable development.

Mr Chan also delivered a keynote address yesterday at a seminar entitled "Digital Public Infrastructure as an Enabler of Resilient Economies". He said that digital public infrastructure provides essential services such as identity verification, secure data exchange and convenient payments, enabling people to access public and commercial services more safely and conveniently while helping businesses expand and obtain financing. Citing Hong Kong's "iAM Smart", Faster Payment System and Commercial Data Interchange as examples, he explained how digital infrastructure could improve the efficiency of public services, facilitate payments and cross-border transactions, and help small and medium-sized enterprises make better use of data to obtain trade financing.

He also noted that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) was creating new opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of digital public infrastructure. Hong Kong, China, is promoting the application of AI in public services and across different sectors of the economy, while supporting innovation by strengthening computing power, data and digital infrastructure, and enhancing AI literacy across the community. At the same time, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will strengthen cybersecurity, safeguard data privacy and improve AI risk governance, enabling the public and businesses to adopt new technologies with confidence and share in the benefits of the digital economy.

During the Annual Meeting, Mr Chan met with Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Mr Laziz Kudratov, to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between the two places in areas including trade, investment, finance and infrastructure development. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong attached great importance to its economic and trade relations with Uzbekistan and looked forward to further deepening mutually beneficial co-operation. He noted that Uzbekistan's Prime Minister, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, had visited Hong Kong twice this year, fully demonstrating Uzbekistan's commitment to advancing co-operation between the two places. He welcomed Uzbek enterprises to make full use of Hong Kong's international financing platform and professional services, including exploring opportunities to list exchange-traded products and real estate investment trusts in Hong Kong.

Mr Chan also met with the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank, Mr Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, to explore joint efforts to promote bilateral trade, support the development of start-ups in both places, and strengthen investment co-operation in venture capital. In addition, he met with HSBC's Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability, Sir Danny Alexander, to discuss infrastructure financing and related opportunities for co-operation.

In the evening, Mr Chan attended the AIIB Annual Meeting Members' Dinner hosted by Qatar, where he exchanged views with representatives of governments, multilateral development organisations, financial institutions and the business community from around the world.

Mr Chan concluded his visit and departed for Hong Kong late last night (September 28, Doha time). He will arrive in Hong Kong this afternoon (September 29, Hong Kong time).

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right) meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Sir Danny Alexander (left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations while attending the AIIB Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (right) meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank, Mr Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi (left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations while attending the AIIB Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right) participating in and speaking at the AIIB Governors’ Business Roundtable. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations while attending the AIIB Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (first right) participating in and speaking at the AIIB Governors’ Business Roundtable. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (first right) meeting with the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Laziz Kudratov (second left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan (centre) with the penalists at a seminar entitled “Digital Public Infrastructure as an Enabler for Resilient Economies”. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in various activities related to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting and met with representatives of different organisations in Doha, Qatar, today (September 28, Doha time), to exchange views on infrastructure financing, financial and economic co-operation. Photo shows Mr Chan delivering a keynote speech at a seminar entitled “Digital Public Infrastructure as an Enabler for Resilient Economies”. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB organises "One-Minute Team-Up: Parent-Child Challenge" and "Family Adventure: Let's GO!"

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 29) invites parents and students of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong to participate in the "One-Minute Team-Up: Parent-Child Challenge" under the Positive Parent Campaign, and to attend the "Family Adventure: Let's GO!" to be held at MCP Central Phase II in Tseung Kwan O on October 17 (Saturday).

The Education Bureau, Photo source: reference image

A spokesman for the EDB said, "The EDB has adopted 'Parent-Child Relationship' as the theme of the Positive Parent Campaign this year, encouraging parents to build a strong bond with their children through quality time spent together."

The "One-Minute Team-Up: Parent-Child Challenge" comprises Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary Groups. Participants may choose to take part in the assigned tasks: "Balloon Relay", "Clap Together", "Jump In Sync" and "Ping-Pong Pass" or the DIY Task Challenge by designing their own one-minute challenge, film it and submit the video.

The "One-Minute Team-Up: Parent-Child Challenge" event, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Participants who complete the assigned task in the required number of times or more within one minute will be eligible for consideration for an award. For each assigned task, one Champion and 19 Merit Awards will be awarded in each group. Winners will be selected based on the number of successful completions of the task that comply with the task rules as captured in the submitted videos. For the DIY Task Challenge, one Champion, five Merit Awards, and one "The Most Liked Award" will be awarded in each group. The winners will be determined by a combined score of the adjudication panel's assessment and online votes.

Participants may enrol through their schools between October 5 (Monday) and November 9 (Monday) to compete for the School Active Participation Award on behalf of their schools. Alternatively, they may enrol and submit their video directly via the activity webpage (www.parent.edu.hk/en/smart-parent-net/topics/article/ppc-competition2026). All participants who submit an eligible video will receive a certificate of commendation and a souvenir.

Furthermore, the EDB will hold the "Family Adventure: Let's GO!" at MCP Central Phase II in Tseung Kwan O from 11am to 7pm on October 17 (Saturday). In addition to laughter yoga and "Light Family Meet 'N' Greet" sessions, the venue will feature four themed game zones offering parent-child games on healthy Internet use, physical co-ordination, problem-solving challenges and body-mind relaxation. Participation is free of charge. Souvenirs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, please visit the activity webpage (www.parent.edu.hk/en/smart-parent-net/topics/article/orpa2026).

The "Family Adventure: Let's GO!" event, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Through the above activities, the EDB aims to raise awareness of the Positive Parent Campaign among students, parents and the public. Parents are encouraged to listen more to their children's thoughts, recognise their efforts, and work together with care, support and a positive attitude to create a family environment conducive to the healthy development of children.

The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 to promote positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels. The campaign aims to help parents develop positive thinking and promote proper ways and attitudes for nurturing children, thereby developing in parents a positive and optimistic mindset that contributes to the effective learning and happy development of children. For updates on the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the Smart Parent Net website (parent.edu.hk).