Participating presidents issue a consensus declaration on the mission of higher education in the age of Artificial Intelligence
The 2nd Summit Explores Three Cross-Disciplinary and Cross-Generational Themes: Higher Education, Legal System, and Youth Development
Bringing together university presidents and senior management from over 50 global institutions to establish a dynamic exchange platform with local higher education institutions
Discussions focus on leveraging the Northern Metropolis University Town to attract international talent and telling the "Hong Kong Legal System" story well under "One Country, Two Systems"
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2026 – The "Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026", organized by the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship (HKAEF), has successfully concluded. This year's summit achieved fruitful outcomes. Beyond establishing an exchange platform that gathered presidents and senior management from over 50 universities across more than 20 countries and regions to interact and explore collaboration opportunities with local tertiary institutions, participating university presidents reached a vital consensus on the mission of university education in the current era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) before the event concluded. They have released a joint declaration that underscores the importance of liberal arts education to human social development alongside the promotion of AI education.
Bringing together university presidents and senior management from over 50 global institutions to establish a dynamic exchange platform with universities in Hong Kong
Prof. Priscilla Leung Emphasizes Human Leading Role in the New AI Era
Speaking at the summit, Prof. Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, Member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), pointed out that humanity must maintain a leading role in the new AI era, ensuring that ultimate decision-making is never entirely surrendered to AI. The new consensus document released at this year's summit likewise emphasizes that AI education must value technology while remaining firmly human-centric.
Participating Presidents Issue Consensus Declaration on the Mission of University Education in the AI Era
Universities participating in this year's summit reached a consensus on the mission of university education in the AI age and jointly issued a joint declaration prior to the event's closing. As university leaders, they committed to advancing education that is both inclusive and future-oriented, alongside responsible innovation. Upholding the rule of law while nurturing a diverse civilization and an industry-academia-research integrated innovation ecosystem that prioritizes human well-being, they will advocate for the human-value-oriented responsible development of AI and uphold high standards of corporate social responsibility. While vigorously promoting AI education and leading its advancement, they will deeply keep in mind the significance of liberal arts education for the development of human society.
Summit Features Groundbreaking Format with Two Venues and Three Core Themes
"Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026" stands as Hong Kong's most premier educational event of the year. In addition to discussing higher education topics centered around the Northern Metropolis University Town, the summit hosted parallel sessions addressing the legal system and youth development, creating a cross-disciplinary and cross-generational forum.
Presidents and Leaders from Over 50 Global Universities Visit Hong Kong, Providing a Timely Exchange Platform for Local Tertiary Institutions
Boasting a stellar lineup, the summit once again received the full support of the University Grants Committee and the active participation of 10 local universities. Internationally, presidents and senior executives from over 50 universities across more than 20 countries and regions across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Belt and Road nations traveled specifically to Hong Kong to attend and share insights. Participating institutions included the University of Cambridge (UK), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Athens University of Economics and Business (Greece), and Umm Al-Qura University (Saudi Arabia), among many others. This timely platform fosters new opportunities for inter-institutional cooperation while allowing overseas university leaders to witness firsthand Hong Kong's extraordinary educational achievements and superior systems as well as its global vision, telling the good "Hong Kong Education" story effectively.
Following the practice of the inaugural event, this year's summit also invited overseas university management to nominate an outstanding student representative to join the delegation. This enables students to experience Hong Kong's opportunities, development, and internationalized faculty firsthand, thereby strengthening Hong Kong's "Study in Hong Kong" brand.
Legal System Parallel Session Focuses on "Hong Kong's Role as an International Legal Hub under 'One Country, Two Systems'" and Telling the "Hong Kong Legal Story" Well
Complementing the education forum, the second day of the summit featured two specialized parallel sessions. The legal parallel session concentrated on how "One Country, Two Systems" contributes to China's overall national development, Hong Kong's positioning as an international legal hub along the Belt and Road, dedicated legislation for the development of the Northern Metropolis, and how legal professionals from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area can "go global" together.
Key speakers included Prof. Guiguo Wang, President of the Academy of International Strategy and Law of Zhejiang University; President of International Academy of the Belt and Road Initiatives; Dr. Cheung Kwok-kwan, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR; Prof. Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, HKSAR Legislative Council Member; Prof. Teresa Cheng, Secretary General of The International Organization for Mediation; Ms Sophie Zhou, Vice President of the Guangdong Lawyers Association; and Prof. Alex Fan Hoi-kit, HKSAR Legislative Council Member and President of the Hainan International Arbitration Court, alongside numerous scholars and legal representatives from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and the Belt and Road countries. They discussed from multi-faceted perspectives how Hong Kong can leverage the unique advantages of its legal system under "One Country, Two Systems." Discussions centered on investment protections under the Basic Law, dedicated legal arrangements for the Northern Metropolis development, the appeal of Hong Kong's common law system to overseas investors, and Hong Kong's role as an international mediation and arbitration center.
Stellar Guests Vivian Kong and Laurence Brahm Share Insights at Youth Forum, Encouraging the New Generation to Pursue Dreams with Courage
Another parallel session was staged -- a youth forum themed "Intergenerational High-level Talent Dialogue", and it was well attended by young attendees from overseas, Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong. The Olympic fencing gold medalist and HKSAR Legislative Council Member Ms Vivian Kong inspired attendees by sharing her personal journey of pursuing dreams through perseverance and determination. Mr Laurence Brahm (author of Zhu Rongji and the Transformation of Modern China) also shared his engaging personal story of chasing the Chinese Dream.
Five HKSAR Principal Officials and Business Leaders Gather to Advance the Commercialisation of Northern Metropolis University Town Scientific Research Outputs
The summit featured a stellar lineup of keynote speakers. Aside from scholars from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and abroad, five key HKSAR Government Bureau chiefs served as key speakers. These senior government officials delivered presentations on topics related to Northern Metropolis development, industry-academia collaboration across local tertiary institutions, and human capital, effectively communicating the concept of the Northern Metropolis and its University Town to international audiences. Additionally, business representatives were invited to attend and speak, bringing government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors together to collaborate. Their collaborative dialogue helped accelerate business sector's participation in the development of the Northern Metropolis and drive the commercialisation of university scientific research outputs.
Furthermore, Mr Vuk Jeremic, President of the United Nations General Assembly (2012–2013), was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the High Table Dinner titled "Transition to Multipolarity in the Age of Geopolitical Recession," broadening attendees' worldview and delivering significant insights.
For the detailed program schedule and speaker list of the two-day summit, please visit:
https://www.gupls.com.hk/en.
The summit's photos can be downloaded from this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OdUhldhve9XoN2oUn6R0WOcuRnSS4wLv?usp=sharing
Hashtag: #HKAEF
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship
Established in July 2023, the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship is committed to fostering international friendship by leveraging Hong Kong's role as a global connector. It promotes people-to-people diplomacy, cultural and economic cooperation, and social exchanges through delegations, forums, and commemorative events. Supporting China's peaceful development, the Association encourages collaboration in scientific, environmental, and talent exchange initiatives, while contributing to world peace and common prosperity. (Website: https://www.hkaef.org.hk/)
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Group signs seven strategic Memoranda of Understanding with partners from the United States, Greater China, Malaysia and the Maldives, as the Hong Kong hub prepares the ground for a sister hub in the Maldives
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2026 – AEI Capital Group, an international alternative investment and asset management group, celebrated the grand opening of its expanded new Hong Kong headquarters office located at the China Resources Building. As the Group now expands its Hong Kong operations through the launch of this new Hong Kong headquarters, its international offshore affiliates manage aggregate alternative assets exceeding USD 7 billion as of December 2025. Located within the Hong Kong CBD with an exceptional Victoria Harbour view, the expanded office is directly annexed to the St. Regis Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which will significantly lubricate AEI Capital Group's strategic initiatives to organise global or regional events in Hong Kong via its expanded Hong Kong headquarters office. To ensure seamless operational continuity, the Group's respective licensed associated entities will maintain their existing office premises until further official notification is submitted to their respective regulators.
Group signs seven strategic Memoranda of Understanding with partners from the United States, Greater China, Malaysia and the Maldives, as the Hong Kong hub prepares the ground for a sister hub in the Maldives
Being dual-headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, emboldened by its other satellite offices in Singapore, London, Washington DC and Chengdu for global market coverage, AEI Capital Group is aspired to ride on Hong Kong's recently crowned status as the No.1 global wealth centre (surpassing Switzerland lately) to develop its onshore Global Asset & Wealth Hub in Hong Kong. This newly launched Hub operates exclusively as a strategic platform dedicated to international enterprise matchmaking, cross-border commercial networking, and global corporate facilitation, to be complemented by AEI's upcoming launch of its offshore Global Asset & Wealth Hub in Maldives, the world-renowned top luxurious travel destination recently emerged to grow its own offshore financial centre.
AEI Capital Group's official launch ceremony of its Hong Kong new headquarters office was witnessed by a long list of spectacular special guests, such as Mr Abdulla Jihad, the former Vice President and Finance Minister of Maldives Republic; Dato Iskandar Mohd Nuli, the President and CEO of Maldives International Financial Centre; Dato Hafizi Bin Abdul Mutolif, the Deputy Chairman of Malaysian Armed Forces Co-operative, a sovereign wealth entity associated with Malaysian armed forces; Shaikh Humaid Abdulla Ali Abdulla Almualla, a UAE royal family member who is one of the anchor partners for AEI's royal & billionaire-focused multi-family office; Datuk Wira Dr Lim Zhao Qi (Ken), the Chairman of Labuan Investment Banks Association & CEO of European Credit Investment Bank; Victor Deng, the President of Sensegain Asset Management, a Beijing-headquartered prominent investment firm; Hongtao Duan (段宏涛), the Chief Executive of Hoping China, a China quality-brand development organisation mandated by the China government for the overseas growth of China nationwide quality-brands; Warren Baker, Managing Partner of LDA Capital, a prominent global emerging markets investment firm based in Los Angeles and Madrid, and some key senior officials from Invest HK in family office and global financial services segments to support AEI's aspiration to grow its Hong Kong global headquarters.
Seven strategic collaboration MoUs
The signing ceremony of a series of strategic collaboration MoUs between AEI Capital Group and its global strategic partners was organised on the same day too at the Runnovation Event Hall, a premier international innovation and exchange platform under China Resources Group in Hong Kong, subsequent to the grand launch ceremony of the AEI Global Asset & Wealth Hub in the afternoon.
AEI has entered into the following strategic collaboration MoUs with its respective global institutional partners of regional market importance:
- MoU with Regal Prestige Multi Family Office (under AEI Capital Group) and FYSEN Group of Companies (Maldives) - for strategic investment and development in various industries in the Maldives, including the financial sector
- MoU with Regal Prestige Multi Family Office (under AEI Capital Group) and Malaysian Armed Forces Co-operative (the sovereign wealth entity associated with Malaysian Armed Forces) - for capitalisation and strategic investment for various assets held by the co-operative
- MoU with LDA Capital Group LLC, a leading emerging markets equity investment group - for collaboration on growth equity deal opportunities across Asia and Europe
- MoU with Hoping China Development Promotion Centre (好品中国发展促进中心) - for strategic collaboration to support the capitalisation and growth of its global halal commerce platform
- MoU with Hoping International Financial Group Co., Limited (好品国际金融集团有限公司) - for collaboration on growth equity deal opportunities
- MoU with Labuan Investment Banks Association - for strategic collaboration in the asset and wealth space
- MoU with Sensegain Asset Management Group Co., Ltd. - for collaboration on growth equity deal opportunities
Why Hong Kong, and why now
There is a widely repeated claim that capital has grown scarce. It has not. Capital is abundant, arguably more so than at any point in a generation, but it has been concentrated in the western world rather than in Asia, the largest growth engine in the world. The scarcity is not of capital; it is of capital willing to cross the distance to where the growth actually is. Hong Kong sits at that crossing.
"Hong Kong is where Asia's growth meets the world's capital, and that is exactly the bridge we exist to build," said John Tan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AEI Capital Group. "The innovation and the growth are here. What is missing is the pricing and the liquidity. We exist to close that gap, one company at a time."
A two-way bridge
The AEI Global Asset & Wealth Hub is a corporate and strategic platform that brings the group's partners together for cross-border collaboration and network-building between Asia, the Gulf, Europe and the United States. The Hong Kong hub is the first; a sister hub in the Maldives is in preparation.
The group sees the partnerships as a bridge that runs in both directions. Asian companies with real fundamentals but depressed valuation and liquidity can be strategically supported and, where it serves them, carried outward toward deeper pools of capital. In the other direction, US and European investors and companies seeking Asian exposure gain a strategic partner whose home advantage is the very market they are trying to enter. Asia-out and world-in are, in the group's view, the same competence seen from two sides.
IMPORTANT COMPLIANCE NOTICE & DISCLAIMER:
To ensure the highest standards of regulatory compliance, this Hub does not engage in, and is completely separated from, any regulated financial services or asset management activities within Hong Kong. All regulated financial services within the region are, or will in the future be, conducted strictly and exclusively by the Group's associated licensed entities registered with and supervised by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong holding Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) licenses, as well as its relevant registered trust companies and other associated licensed or regulated entities in Hong Kong, which maintain entirely separate corporate governance, designated physical operating areas, and absolute informational barriers (Chinese Walls). While the Group expands its Hong Kong operations through the newly launched headquarters, its respective licensed associated entities in Hong Kong shall maintain their existing office premises until relevant statutory notifications are officially served to their respective regulators.
To ensure absolute compliance with the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) of Hong Kong, all strategic collaboration Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) referenced in this press release—including all related activities concerning growth equity deal opportunities, investment, and capitalisation—are entered into, managed solely by, and executed exclusively through independent offshore affiliates of the Group operating entirely outside of Hong Kong.
These offshore entities are properly licensed, registered, or authorised outside Hong Kong for their relevant activities in their respective jurisdictions; however, they do not hold any regulated licenses under the SFO, do not conduct any regulated activities within Hong Kong, and do not engage in the active marketing of any investment, asset management, or financial products to the public in Hong Kong.
This press release is issued for information only. It does not constitute an offer, invitation or solicitation to invest in, or an advertisement for, any financial product, security or regulated service, and is not directed at any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer would be unlawful.
Hashtag: #AEICapitalGroup #CorporateExpansion #HongKongBusiness #StrategicPartnerships #CrossBorderBusiness
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
AEI Capital Group
Founded in 2011 and dual-headquartered in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, AEI Capital Group is a leading international alternative investment and asset management group operating across Southeast Asia and Greater China, with its subsidiaries and associated licensed entities maintaining an active operational presence in Hong Kong. The Group's international offshore affiliates manage aggregate alternative assets exceeding USD 7 billion as of December 2025. Its discipline is growth equity: not venture capital, not private equity, but the intersection of the two.
That track record has been recognised over the years. Wealth & Finance International named AEI Capital Group Best Investment Firm – East Asia from 2021 to 2023. In 2025, CEO Insights Asia placed John Tan, the group's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, among the Top 10 CEOs in Banking, Financial Services and Investment in Malaysia, alongside the chief executives of other leading Malaysian banks.
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