Hui Ching-yu: Hong Kong's first five-year plan sets clear "Finance+" direction, using gold as entry point to develop commodity trading ecosystem

The APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting is being held in Hong Kong for two consecutive days. Speaking at a seminar this morning, Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, said that Hong Kong's first five-year plan has set a clear direction of advancing "Finance+", through measures such as strengthening trade finance and developing green and sustainable finance, so that finance can better serve the real economy. This seminar focuses on two major themes: trade and supply chain finance, and green and sustainable finance. Hui pointed out that the seminar gives the business sector an opportunity to participate directly in the relevant discussions of the Finance Ministers' Meeting, providing market observations and practical experience, and promoting alignment between policies and corporate needs. On "Finance + Trade", he said Hong Kong is strengthening support for SMEs, and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has played an important role through multiple measures and innovative financing solutions, including Project CargoX. In the area of "Finance + Green Development", Hong Kong is firmly promoting green and sustainable finance development and advancing the building of an international carbon market. Hui said Hong Kong's first five-year plan proposes consolidating Hong Kong's position as a global offshore RMB business hub, an international asset and wealth management center, and an international risk management center, and using gold as an entry point to develop a commodity trading ecosystem. These advantages help Hong Kong become an important platform connecting capital, enterprises and opportunities in the region and globally. This year marks the first time Hong Kong has hosted the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting. Hui said that in the face of profound economic transformation and evolving global challenges, no economy can ensure prosperity on its own, and regional development needs to be built on partnership, innovation and resilience. He hopes that through exchanges among regulators, business leaders and experts, new opportunities will be opened up, financial resilience strengthened, and sustainable growth promoted.