Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po gives a speech at "The World and China's Economy Under Resilient Growth", a dinner hosted by Tencent, at Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 16, 2024. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po continued his meetings on Tuesday with global business leaders attending the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities.

On the second day of his trip to the Swiss mountain resort for the forum, Chan met with President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga to discuss enhancing investment and financing for green and sustainable projects, promoting digitalization, boosting collaboration among countries and regions, and fostering a more inclusive development of the regional and global economy.

Chan also attended a roundtable talk organized by a multinational bank, meeting representatives from international financial institutions, investment funds, the air cargo and logistics industry, insurance groups, professional services organizations and financial technology firms. 

Hong Kong, with its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, has bright prospects and will play an even more pivotal role as a bridge and platform connecting the Chinese mainland and international markets and investors, said Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po

He updated them on the latest economic and social conditions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as the SAR government’s efforts to strengthen the city’s role as a world hub for finance, develop a diversified economy, and attract enterprises and talent. 

ALSO READ: Paul Chan: HK set on becoming premier medical innovation hub

Addressing a seminar hosted by a Chinese mainland financial media agency, Chan pointed out that four major global trends are reshaping the global economic order -- unilateralism and the geopolitical situation, the rise of China, developing Asia and the Middle East, global green transformation, and technological changes and the development of the digital economy. 

Amid the new international trend, Hong Kong, with its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, has bright prospects and will play an even more pivotal role as a bridge and platform connecting the Chinese mainland and international markets and investors, he said.  

The SAR is also pressing ahead with the development goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and fostering its financial services and technology sectors as the city’s dual growth engines. 

The finance chief later attended a dinner hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, for the guests of the five-day meeting.

ALSO READ: Chan to showcase Hong Kong's opportunities during Swiss trip

The forum opened on Monday with the theme “Rebuilding Trust”. Chan, accompanied by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah, is expected to speak at two sessions during the forum.

At last year’s annual gathering, Chan updated participants on the pace of Hong Kong’s post-pandemic recovery, and expressed optimism about the city’s economic growth.