Parallel Forum of Asian Financial Forum – “Development & Innovation of AI for Digital Finance’’
On January 26, 2026, the “Development & Innovation of AI for Digital Finance”, the thematic event of International Finance Week 2026, was successfully held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. As a parallel forum of the 19th Asian Financial Forum, the event brought together approximately 600 representatives from government agencies, international organizations, academic and research institutions, and the finance industry.
Professor Chiang Chun-yuan, Chair of the Forum and Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Committee of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), and Clarie Lo, Co-Chair of the Forum, jointly hosted the opening ceremony.
The forum focused on financial transformation driven by artificial intelligence and digital technologies. In her opening address, Salina Yan, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, emphasized that as a leading global international financial center, Hong Kong demonstrates strong development resilience and unique advantages. She noted that Hong Kong adheres to the fundamental principle of “same activity, same risk, same regulation”, and while promoting innovation in areas such as virtual assets and AI finance, it firmly upholds the bottom line of financial stability.
Professor Chiang Chun-yuan, Chair of the Forum and Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Committee of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), specifically pointed out that artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological upgrade; it represents a fundamental shift in how digital transactions are conducted and how they can be secure and trustworthy. From global finance to cross-border transactions, AI is redefining efficiency and trust. These are not isolated improvements but systemic transformations and upgrades. As a core force, AI is reshaping global financial cross-border settlement, insurance claims, and healthcare systems. This is not the future; this is the present.
The forum convened distinguished guests who shared insights on seven core topics. Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, focused on how digital finance helps Chinese enterprises “go global from Hong Kong”, analyzing Hong Kong’s unique advantages and role as an international financial center in connecting the mainland with global markets. Zhang Tao, Chief Representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), shared insights on the impact of AI-enabled digital finance development on financial stability, and how the BIS assists central banks in building governance frameworks that support innovation while maintaining financial stability through providing exchange platforms and analytical research. George GILDER, Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Discovery Institute, highlighted a new vision for Globalization 2.0 and the concept of time cost, exploring the evolution of the global financial landscape in the digital economy era.
In addition, Professor Wang Yang, Vice President of the University of Hong Kong, looked forward to the new opportunities brought by digital currencies and asset tokenization to Hong Kong; Professor Huang Haizhou, Member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People’s Bank of China, discussed the synergy between development finance and financial innovation; Henrietta Lau, Member of the Executive Committee of the Monetary Authority of Macao, elaborated on the key significance of digital trusted technology in cross-border payment applications; and Shi QI, Chairlady of the Board of Ta Yang Group Holdings Limited, shared how AI empowers traditional sectors and drives the evolution of capital and competitiveness.
In the roundtable discussion sessions, participating guests engaged in in-depth exchanges on three core application areas, with Professor Song Min, President of the Hong Kong International Finance Association, moderating the thematic discussions.
During the discussion on the topic “Digital Trust, Efficient Settlement”, Raluca POPA, Head of Global Trade Solution at HSBC; Mr. Gilbert LEE, Vice Chairman of Hang Seng Bak (China); and Jimmy JIM, Managing Executive Officer of ICBC (Asia) & Alternative Chief Executive of ICBC HK Branch; jointly explored how AI and digital empowerment drive innovative financial services, trade investment, and settlement.
In the discussion on “Insurance for Longevity, Economic Blue Ocean”, a lively dialogue took place among Professor Zhang Zhenhai, Chinese Medicine Hospital of HK; Professor Kenneth CHEUNG, Hospital Chief Executive of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital; Candy AuYeung, Chief Customer Operations and Health Protection Business Director of Prudential; Dr. Chris Han, CEO of Bay Insurance Brokers; and William Too, Director of Civic Health Services.
Professor Chiang Chun-yuan believes that a digital-intelligent credit system will become a key infrastructure for building a trusted healthcare ecosystem. Through the digitalization of credit in medical data, insurance payments, and supply chains, this system not only provides innovative solutions for R&D financing of innovative drugs and cross-border medical payments but also strongly supports the active lives of long-lived populations through health digitalization. It also offers effective and safe new means and a bridge for the R&D and application of traditional health foods and medicines that integrate Eastern and Western wisdom.
During the discussion “Digital Finance, Efficient and Secure,”moderated by Prof. Min SONG, President of the Hong Kong International Finance Association, featured DU MiaoMiao, CEO of Macau Development Bank; John SUN, Chairman of Ant Bank (Macao); YANG Yuehao, Deputy General Manager of Bank of China (Macau); Philip WONG, CEO of ChiFu Wealth Management Ltd.; and Jean-Pierrre Xiao-Min WANG, Co-Founder of Digital Financial Values Partner Ltd. They exchanged cutting-edge perspectives on the opportunities and challenges digital technologies and AI present for the development of finance. Prof. Xiao Geng, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Finance Association, delivered a concluding speech at the forum’s closure.
During the forum, the Hong Kong International Finance Association held its 10th Anniversary Reception. The Association specially awarded the title of “Honorary Fellow” to four distinguished individuals: Anthony Neoh, former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission; Antony Leung, former Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Zhang Tao, Chief Representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS); and George GILDER, Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Discovery Institute; in recognition of their strong support for the Association and their outstanding contributions in the fields of financial innovation, policy research, and global vision.
The forum brought together approximately 600 representatives from government agencies, international organizations, academic and research institutions, and the financial industry. Through keynote speeches and roundtable dialogues, participants jointly explored feasible paths for digital-intelligent finance in promoting high-quality development, facilitating cross-border collaboration, and maintaining financial stability, further consolidating Hong Kong’s leading role as a hub for integrating international finance and technological innovation.
Looking forward, digital finance and AI will continue evolving from frontier innovations to foundational economic infrastructure, reshaping the financial ecosystem across key sectors such as insurance, trade and investment. Leveraging artificial intelligence, ensuring inclusive access, safeguarding data governance, and advancing cross-border cooperation will be key to building financial systems that are not only efficient, but also fair and resilient enough to meet long-term challenges such as aging populations and climate transition.
In Hong Kong, where financial services contribute to over one-fifth of GDP, this transformation represents both an opportunity and a necessity. As Asia’s international financial center and a connector bridging China with global capital markets, Hong Kong is well-positioned to facilitate deeper international cooperation and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of finance regionally and globally.
This event was co-organized by the Alliance for Financial Stability with Information Technology and the Hong Kong Institution for Infrastructural Finance, hosted by the Centre For Global Sustainability Services, and supported by institutions such as the We · Future Wellness Alliance with media partners including mainstream media such as the South China Morning Post and Phoenix Television.
