CE meets Minister of Finance (with photo)
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Mr Lee welcomed and thanked Mr Lan for leading a delegation to visit Hong Kong and chairing the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM). The FMM, being the last sectoral ministerial meeting before the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in Shenzhen in November this year, was of great significance to the outcomes in the financial field of APEC China 2026. The country is the host economy of APEC this year, and the FMM was hosted by the Ministry of Finance and organised for the first time by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The two-day meeting started yesterday and was successfully held in Hong Kong, during which candid and in-depth exchanges were conducted on key issues in the financial and economic fields, and a series of pragmatic outcomes were achieved.
The meeting adopted and issued the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Joint Statement and the Policy Statement on Digital Infrastructure Financing Across the Asia-Pacific Region, setting a clear direction and providing guidance for deepening financial and economic co-operation among Asia-Pacific economies. The meeting further deepened consensus among the parties in three areas: first, strengthening communication and co-ordination on macroeconomic policies to jointly address external risks and challenges; second, advancing pragmatic fiscal and financial co-operation to support the long-term sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific economy; and third, deepening the process of regional integration and promoting the building of an Asia-Pacific community. The meeting also produced two outcome documents in specialised areas and summarised the programme promoting dialogue for young financial talent across the APEC region.
Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the country for its trust in and support for Hong Kong, as well as its strong affirmation of Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong actively leveraged the FMM as a platform for international exchange to showcase its unique strengths of connecting with the Mainland and the world, and to deepen its economic and trade exchanges and co-operation with APEC member economies. As an engine of global economic growth, the Asia-Pacific region bears greater responsibilities amid the multiple challenges facing world economic growth. Hong Kong will continue to give full play to its roles as a "super-connector" and a "super value-adder", and work with others to promote regional economic co-operation, prosperity and stability.
Mr Lee said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre. The HKSAR Government announced last month the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, proactively aligning with national development strategies, further developing the Renminbi (RMB) business and commodity trading, and consolidating Hong Kong's international competitive advantages. Hong Kong will continue to advance its high-quality development as an international financial centre, deepen mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets, and serve the country's high-level financial opening up.
Mr Lee said that the Ministry of Finance has issued RMB sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for consecutive years, and made its inaugural issuance of RMB sovereign green bonds in Hong Kong this year, helping consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as the world's offshore RMB business hub. The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the development of Hong Kong's bond market, advance the internationalisation of RMB and further enhance the sustainable finance ecosystem. Mainland financial institutions may leverage Hong Kong's internationalised market, professional services and talent pool to further expand their business. In addition, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will soon establish an office in Hong Kong. As a member of the AIIB, Hong Kong will continue to actively support its work.
Ends/Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:53
Issued at HKT 19:53
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