APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting Opens in Hong Kong: Lan Fo'an Sets Out Three Priorities

HONG KONG — The 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting opened in Hong Kong on October 20 and runs for two days until October 21. According to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's news release, the meeting is hosted by China's Ministry of Finance and co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government — the first time the APEC finance ministers have met in Hong Kong. Finance ministers or their representatives from the 21 APEC economies are attending, along with heads of international organisations and senior partner representatives. Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an addressed the opening ceremony, and Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po spoke during the discussion sessions.

Lan said a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, and that Asia-Pacific, as the engine of global growth, carries greater responsibilities. He set out three priorities: strengthening macroeconomic policy dialogue to safeguard financial stability, speeding up economic transformation to build resilience, and putting development first to promote shared prosperity. The first day's agenda covered the global and regional macroeconomic and financial situation, fiscal policies that support people's livelihoods, and financing for digital infrastructure. A closed-door session was held on the morning of October 20, followed by a working lunch between the ministers and APEC business representatives.

Chan said that amid geopolitical tensions and trade-policy uncertainty, Asia-Pacific economies must deepen cooperation and keep trade and investment flowing. He called for greater investment in technology, digital infrastructure and talent training, and wider application of super intelligence so that small businesses and the public can share the gains, adding that Hong Kong would use its unique advantages under 'one country, two systems' and its diverse financing channels as an international financial centre to act as a 'super-connector' and 'super value-adder', linking capital, technology and projects across the region.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, speaking at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Summit Forum on the morning of October 20, said the finance ministers' meeting is the last specialised ministerial meeting before the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen next month, and that Hong Kong would use the platform to present its combined advantages as a Greater Bay Area core city linking national and international opportunities. Earlier that day, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the APEC Business Advisory Council held two seminars, on digital, inclusive and sustainable supply-chain finance and on nature finance and green cooperation. A welcome dinner was held in the evening. The meeting continues on October 21, with a press conference after it closes. The Ministry of Finance has said expected outcomes include a finance ministers' statement, a report on fiscal policies supporting livelihoods in Asia-Pacific, a policy statement on digital-infrastructure financing, and a compendium of inclusive-finance practices.

Related: Taiwan Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun Leads Delegation to APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Hong Kong

Related: Vietnam and US Discuss Financial Cooperation and Preparations for APEC 2027 at Hong Kong Meeting

Related: China's Foreign Ministry: Xi Jinping To Chair APEC Leaders' Meeting In Shenzhen On Nov. 18-19

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 维多利亚港。照片：CEphoto, Uwe Aranas／Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 3.0）。Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

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