Financial Secretary today Paul Chan began a visit to Dalian by attending various events at the World Economic Forum's “Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026”, also known as the Summer Davos forum.

These events included the High-Level Dialogue on China Megacities, where he held discussions with leaders of Mainland cities, business representatives and international business leaders, on the role of China's megacities and regions in the country’s new round of high-level opening up, and how to promote cross-border co-operation and the collaborative development of industrial chains.

In a speech, Mr Chan stated that competition among cities in the future will revolve around innovation and technology (I&T), requiring them to strengthen collaborative development and complementary advantages through city clusters.

He said that Hong Kong, building on its status as an international financial and trade centre, is promoting I&T as one of the main engines of its economic development. This includes accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, strengthening collaboration with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and combining scientific research outcomes and advanced manufacturing to promote the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation.

He also highlighted that Hong Kong is committed to attracting high-end talent, and that since the enhancement of talent admission schemes at the end of 2022, around 300,000 people have come to Hong Kong to develop their careers, injecting significant momentum into the city's development.

In the morning, Mr Chan met World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Officer Alois Zwinggi. He also held meetings with Beijing Vice Mayor Sun Shuo and Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan to discuss strengthening exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and those two Mainland cities.

Additionally, Mr Chan attended an "Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders" lunch.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan led members of the Hong Kong delegation to visit the Dalian High-Tech Industrial Zone and held a roundtable meeting with representatives of I&T enterprises from both places.

He highlighted that Dalian and Hong Kong are highly aligned and mutually complementary in their innovation and technology development paths. He said that Hong Kong is not only a “super connector” and “super value-adder” but can also act as an "adapter" for Mainland enterprises entering the international market, helping them to align with international best standards.

Mr Chan stressed that he hopes the two places will strengthen co-operation and establish exchange mechanisms to jointly seize opportunities brought by the new round of innovation and technology development.

The Financial Secretary and the delegation attended a dinner hosted by Standing Committee member and Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Dalian Municipal Committee Xu Guangxiang.