Financial Secretary Paul Chan today attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 in Tianjin, and led representatives from about 20 startups and enterprises to visit the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Area for business matching activities.

At the annual meeting, also known as the Summer Davos, Mr Chan joined the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders where he exchanged views on the current international financial and trade landscape and developments with other international and regional leaders.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan participated as a keynote speaker in a discussion session on the economic and investment relationship and development prospects between the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and China.

He pointed out that Hong Kong can serve as a “super connector” in trade, investment, finance, and innovation and technology (I&T) between China and the MENA.

Specifically, with the increasing popularity of trade settled in local currencies among economies in the region, renminbi liquidity, the range of renminbi investment products and risk management tools, and custodian services can be enhanced to support renminbi investment and funding needs of MENA countries.

Furthermore, as the region invests heavily in infrastructure and green transformation, Hong Kong can act as a financing centre for quality enterprises and projects. Collaboration between I&T enterprises can also help countries in the region achieve their development goals in various fields.

Separately, the Financial Secretary, leading representatives from startups from the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, Cyberport and the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, visited the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Area in the morning.

They toured two enterprises and held a roundtable meeting with about 30 Tianjin-based tech companies to discuss further co-operation directions and strategies between Tianjin and Hong Kong’s innovation sectors, and promote exchanges and interface between enterprises of the two places.

During the roundtable meeting, Mr Chan said Hong Kong welcomes Tianjin’s I&T companies to leverage Hong Kong’s platform for international expansion. He emphasised that enterprises can utilise Hong Kong’s vibrant and comprehensive fundraising market and high-quality financial services to connect with global funds and investors. He also encouraged them to collaborate with Hong Kong’s I&T enterprises to make use of Hong Kong’s internationalised application scenarios and global business networks, thereby accelerating the pace of their international expansion.

In the evening, Mr Chan met Tianjin Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary Liu Guiping for in-depth exchanges on strengthening co-operation in trade, finance, shipping, I&T and tourism between Tianjin and Hong Kong.

Additionally, Mr Chan met Xi’an Mayor Ye Niuping, also attending the Summer Davos, to exchange views on further fostering co-operation.

The Financial Secretary will continue to attend the Summer Davos in Tianjin tomorrow and depart for Beijing in the evening.