The 19th Asian Financial Forum opened in Hong Kong, highlighting financial growth, AI innovation, and new cross-border market ties.

With the theme "Co-creating New Horizons amid an Evolving Landscape," the 19th Asian Financial Forum opened in Hong Kong on January 26, 2026. More than 3,600 people from more than 60 countries attended. Citing a record 11,070 foreign and mainland-affiliated businesses operating there in 2025—an 11% increase from 2024—Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee emphasized the city's development as a global financial hub. AI, robotics, and healthcare were highlighted in the forum's introduction of the first Global Business Summit. The Shanghai Gold Exchange and Hong Kong's Financial Services and Treasury Bureau signed a significant deal to create a shared governance framework for a new central clearing system for gold. Additionally, plans were made to increase asset management, broaden the equity and bond markets, and improve financial connectivity with markets like Saudi Arabia and Korea.