APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting to be held for the first time in Hong Kong

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong for the first time on October 20-21. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stated that the meeting will focus on four key areas: fiscal policies to support livelihood development, financing for digital infrastructure, inclusive finance, and cooperation in youth financial talent exchange.

Chan highlighted Hong Kong's role in regional development, particularly in green and sustainable debt, noting that Hong Kong has led the Asian market in this sector for eight consecutive years. Regarding digital infrastructure, he suggested exploring public-private partnership (PPP) financing models to support investments in artificial intelligence, data centers, and cloud services.

In terms of inclusive finance, the meeting will address how to support small and medium-sized enterprises, citing the success of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s ‘Commercial Data Interchange’ platform. Additionally, the meeting aims to showcase Hong Kong's advantages as an international insurance and risk management hub to deepen cooperation with regional partners.