The 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting opens in Hong Kong to discuss Asia-Pacific economic stability and transformation cooperation

China News Service, Hong Kong, October 20 (Reporter Dai Xiaolu) The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting opened in Hong Kong, China on the 20th. This is the first time that Hong Kong has hosted the APEC Ministerial Meeting. This session lasted for one and a half days and was attended by finance ministers or their representatives from each member economy, heads of relevant international organizations, and senior representatives of partners.

Lan Fo'an, Minister of Finance of the People's Republic of China, served as the chairman of the meeting and led the Chinese delegation to attend and preside over the meeting. In his speech, he elaborated on three key aspects of financial cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. First, strengthen economic policy dialogue and maintain regional economic and financial stability. All major economies must strengthen the robustness of their own macroeconomic policies, strengthen policy communication and coordination, and prevent negative spillover effects caused by policy adjustments. Second, accelerate economic transformation, enhance economic resilience, grasp the trend of digital and green transformation, promote innovative cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, green and low-carbon and other fields, and cultivate new economic growth points. Third, adhere to the priority of development, promote common prosperity, deepen practical cooperation in the financial and economic fields, create an open regional economic environment, maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and promote regional economic integration.

Chen Xu, Chairman of the 2026 APEC Senior Officials Meeting, reported on the work progress and results of the APEC Year of China. He said that as the host of APEC in 2026, China and its members will focus on the theme of "Building an Asia-Pacific Community and Promoting Common Prosperity" and solidly promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and mechanisms around the three priority areas of openness, innovation, and cooperation. Hong Kong is an international financial, trade and shipping center, the core engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and an important bridge connecting China to the Asia-Pacific and even global markets. Guests are welcome to experience the unique charm of Hong Kong.

Reporters at the scene saw that theme exhibition boards and interactive areas were set up in the venue's passageways to promote Hong Kong's financial advantages and showcase traditional Chinese culture. The financial theme exhibition board introduces relevant policies and market data such as the scale of Hong Kong's green and sustainable finance market, family office development, financial technology and artificial intelligence financial innovation, and presents Hong Kong's platform function to connect regional capital and support the economic transformation of the Asia-Pacific. The cultural display area displays traditional Cantonese opera costumes, exquisite crowns and hand-made lion dance heads. Chinese paper-cutting is also demonstrated on-site, welcoming guests with a vivid display of traditional culture.

It is reported that the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting is one of the most important professional ministerial meetings under the APEC mechanism. It is an important platform for Asia-Pacific economies to strengthen macroeconomic policy communication and financial cooperation.