Hong Kong to host Apec finance ministers’ meeting in October 2026 Hong Kong will hold the Apec finance ministers’ meeting in October next year for the first time when China plays host to the regional economic forum. City authorities revealed the news on Friday afternoon, confirming an earlier Post report, and said that the treasury minister would lead the task force coordinating planning for the event. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that the 33rd Apec economic leaders’ meeting would be held in Shenzhen next year. The foreign affairs ministry said on Friday that the city would host the event on November 18 and 19, 2026. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, meanwhile, said that Hong Kong authorities would “spare no effort in making comprehensive and meticulous preparations” to support the country in successfully hosting the forum. “We are grateful for the central government’s trust and support,” he said. “The [city government] will leverage Hong Kong’s experience and strengths as an international financial centre to ensure the successful organisation of the finance ministers’ meeting. “Hong Kong will also seize this opportunity to deepen international exchanges and cooperation, better integrating into and serving the overall national development.” Apec forums aim to promote free trade by bringing together 21 member economies, including Hong Kong, the mainland, South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States. According to state news agency Xinhua, an Apec informal senior officials’ meeting in Shenzhen on Friday unanimously approved a Chinese proposal to make openness, innovation and cooperation the three priorities for the forum’s “China Year”. “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together” was chosen as its theme, with the meeting also confirming the schedule of Apec events for the year. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the finance ministers’ meeting would allow the city to showcase its development in economic, financial and social areas to participating economies and the international community. The opportunity would also help Hong Kong deepen its collaboration with other Apec member economies, fully demonstrating the city’s role as a “superconnector”, he added. As host nation, China will be responsible for preparing and chairing the Apec economic leaders’ meeting, as well as a series of ministerial gatherings and other events in 2026. The finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong will be hosted by the country’s Ministry of Finance, while city authorities will handle organising the event. It was also announced that Macau would host the Apec tourism ministers’ meeting in June next year. During the Apec handover ceremony last month, Xi described Shenzhen as a place “adjacent to Hong Kong”, noting the former had “transformed from a backward fishing village into a modern international metropolis in just a few decades”. He also said the Graeter Bay Area could be considered a growth pole for the world economy. The bay area refers to Beijing’s ambitious scheme to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine southern Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse. Hong Kong last held a world-class ministerial-level meeting in 2005, when it hosted the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference. Billy Mak Sui-choi, an associate professor at Baptist University’s accountancy, economics and finance department, said that Hong Kong was qualified to host such events given its status as the world’s third-ranking finance hub. “As Hong Kong is the country’s southern gateway and an important financial centre providing offshore [yuan] services, it is more appropriate for it to receive ministers from other countries,” he said. The academic said that choosing to host the forum in southern China was a strategic move, as it could showcase Shenzhen’s technological achievements and Hong Kong’s financial development. Hosting an Apec meeting in Hong Kong could also showcase how the city was progressing, he added. He said that Hong Kong’s strengths in terms of information flows, security and its extensive flight connections gave it an edge as an event host. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336205/hong-kong-host-apec-finance-ministers-meeting-november-2026 (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post