China-US dialogue will ease concerns, but competition will remain, Paul Chan says

Competition between China and the US will persist, but increased dialogue between the two economic superpowers will provide greater global certainty and ease geopolitical concerns, with Hong Kong positioned to play a unique role, the city’s financial secretary has told the South China Morning Post.

In a wide-ranging interview, Paul Chan Mo-po said more communication and dialogue between the two nations would be “good for everyone”, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, wrapped up a historic summit in Washington last Friday, local time.

Chan also shed light on his expectations for the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, which takes place in Hong Kong on October 20 and 21, and will bring together hundreds of global leaders in the city. He anticipated that visiting political leaders would see Hong Kong and its vibrancy with their own eyes.

The event will take place ahead of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which will be held in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.