Professor Hongbin CAI, Dean and Chair of Economics, Director of the Institute of China Economy (ICE) of HKU Business School, delivers the welcoming remarks.
The 8th HKU Quarterly Forum on Chinese Economy, hosted by HKU Business School's Institute of China Economy (ICE), in partnership with the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Nanjing University, was held on 31 October. The Forum brought together renowned experts and industry leaders to share valuable insights on China's policy outlook, changes in international trade and supply chains, and the opportunities arising from macroeconomic uncertainties as China outlines its economic development in China's 15th Five-Year Plan. Held at HKU iCube at Central, the Forum brought together a diverse audience of industry leaders, academic experts, alumni and students, with more than 200 people in attendance.
"As China navigates lingering uncertainties in its negotiations with the United States and embarks on the 15th Five-Year Plan, HKU Business School leverages its academic expertise to provide rigorous analysis of the nation's economic trends and policy direction." said Professor Hongbin CAI, Dean of HKU Business School, in his welcome speech,"Dedicated to advancing high-quality growth and effective policy implementation, the School serves as a platform for cross-sector dialogue, where research-based insights inform practical solutions and drive progress in economic and policy practice. "
Professor Zhenhua MAO, Professor of Practice in Economics of HKU Business School and Member of Chief Executive's Policy Unit Expert Group, presented the keynote report titled "Towards the 15th Five-Year Plan: Security, Development, and Technology." He pointed out that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's economy needs to "coordinate security and development", with science and technology as the core focus. He highlighted that, "As China–U.S. competition becomes a norm and global supply chains undergo rapid restructuring, China must strengthen its security defenses and break away from some of the key technology constraints. It also needs to stimulate growth momentum through initiatives such as the 'Three Ten Trillion' strategy — to boost domestic demand, upgrade industrial systems, and advance high-standard opening-up." Regarding Hong Kong, he suggested it should shift from "bringing business in" to "help business going out," leverage its advantages as an international financial center, build an international science and innovation hub, and provide strong support for the country's overall opening-up and technological self-reliance and strength.Top of Form
The Forum was followed by inspiring keynote speeches by two distinguished speakers. Professor Heiwai TANG, Associate Vice-President of The University of Hong Kong, Associate Dean of HKU Business School and Director of Asia Global Institute, focused on the theme of "An Evolving New World Order under Trump 2.0". Prof. Tang said, "Tensions between China and the U.S. will likely persist for years — current negotiations are merely a temporary truce. Looking ahead, global economic exchanges will become increasingly fragmented, digitalised, and regionalised. Governments will focus more on inclusive and secure growth." He further added that, "At this critical juncture, Hong Kong — with its unique advantages in finance, governance, talent, and taxation — should seize the opportunity to play a greater role in advancing the nation's development."Top of Form
Professor Hongsong ZHANG, Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Director of the Institute of China Economy (ICE) in HKU Business School, presented on the topic of "Current State of China's Industrial Chain" and remarked that, "While China's industrial chain is largely complete, critical breakthroughs in key technologies remain an urgent priority. For enterprises, building diversified supply chains is vital to mitigate external shocks and ensure resilience in location decisions." He added that industrial policy should take a holistic view of the entire value chain, target bottleneck sectors, promote collaborative innovation driven by leading firms, and reduce cross-regional trade barriers. Only through these efforts can China strengthen its industrial foundation and sustain economic growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
A roundtable discussion focusing on the 15th Five-Year Plan and the Certainties, Challenges, and Opportunities for China's Economy was moderated by Professor Hongbin CAI. Panellists include Dr. Luxia LI, General Manager, Centre for Southeast Asia Research, ICBC (Asia), Dr. Hui SHAN, Chief China Economist, Goldman Sachs, Dr. Yi XIONG, Chief China Economist, Deutsche Bank, Ph.D. in Economics, National School of Development, Peking University, Mr. George YANG, Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner, Anatole Investment Management Limited, and Mr. Hao ZHOU, Chief Economist, Guotai Junan International.
Speakers discussed various topics, including the new messages from the 15th Five-Year Plan, industrial collaboration opportunities and AI competition between China and the US, and expectations on the capital and financial market.
