Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, began his visit to Dalian today (June 23). This morning, he attended events related to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026 (Summer Davos), including the High-Level Dialogue on China Megacities, where he exchanged ideas with leaders of Mainland cities, business representatives, and international business leaders on the role of China’s megacities and regions in the new round of high-level opening up, and how to promote cross-border co-operation and the collaborative development of industrial chains.
In his speech, Mr Chan stated that competition among cities in the future will revolve around innovation and technology (I&T), requiring cities to strengthen collaborative development and complementary advantages through a “city cluster” model. He said that Hong Kong, building on its status as an international financial and trade centre, is actively promoting I&T as one of the main engines of economic development. This includes accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, strengthening collaboration with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and combining scientific research, the transformation of research outcomes, and advanced manufacturing to promote the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is also continuously enriching its financial products, including commodities, gold trading, and digital assets, and leveraging its shipping and air transport networks and international regulatory advantages to play the role of a multinational supply chain management centre, supporting Mainland enterprises’ overseas expansion amid the reshaping of global supply chains. He further noted that Hong Kong is committed to attracting high-end talent; since the enhancement of the talent admission schemes at the end of 2022, approximately 300 000 people have come to Hong Kong to develop their careers, injecting greater momentum into the city’s development through its talent pool.