Asian Financial Forum

The Asian Financial Forum (AFF), an annual event held in Hong Kong, is garnering attention as it hosts its 19th forum. This year's event is particularly newsworthy due to several key developments impacting the Asian economy and global finance. Hong Kong's Chief Executive highlighted a record surge in foreign and mainland Chinese firms in the city, emphasizing its role as a financial hub. A memorandum of understanding between Hong Kong and the Shanghai Gold Exchange will be signed at the forum to establish a cross-border gold trade clearing system, further solidifying Hong Kong's ambition to become a global gold trading hub. The forum also coincides with discussions about China's growing global power and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's (AIIB) commitment to infrastructure investments across Asia amid geopolitical challenges. Furthermore, advancements in AI drug development, potentially leading to regulatory approval in China, add a technological dimension to the discussions. The AFF serves as a crucial platform for addressing these interconnected issues and shaping the future of finance and development in Asia.