HONG KONG - The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) opened in Hong Kong on Monday, bringing together global political and business leaders and regulatory representatives to promote international financial cooperation and policy coordination.

Under the theme "Co-creating New Horizons amid an Evolving Landscape," this year's forum features the inaugural Global Business Summit, which will assess the impact of high-growth industries including artificial intelligence, robotics and healthcare.

Frederick Ma, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), said the newly-introduced summit is part of an increased focus to strengthen ties between finance and the real economy at the AFF to help support sustained innovation and long-term growth.

In his speech, John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), underscored the city's unique advantages under "one country, two systems," as it has ensured that Hong Kong thrives as a top destination for enterprises seeking to grow and develop in a safe and convenient business environment.

Lee noted that the number of foreign- and Chinese mainland-affiliated companies in Hong Kong reached 11,070 in 2025, up 11 percent from the year before and hitting a record high.

To boost Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, Lee said the HKSAR government will deepen the equity market, expand the bond market, advance the asset management and wealth management sectors, and build an international gold trading market and commodities trading ecosystem in Hong Kong.

During the forum, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange, a new milestone in deepening cooperation between the gold markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

According to the pact, the two sides will work together to establish a high-level, collaborative governance structure for Hong Kong's new gold central clearing system, and open new avenues for physical infrastructure synergy and market interconnectivity.

The two-day forum, co-organized by the HKSAR and the HKTDC, includes more than 40 sessions covering topics such as the global economic outlook, wealth management, supply chain financing, and gold exchange. It is expected to attract over 3,600 financial and business representatives from around the world.