China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng to headline Hong Kong bankers’ summit, hot on heels of appointment to lead top finance body

He will address the Global Financial Leader’s Investment Summit via video, while three top mainland Chinese regulators will attend in person

President Xi Jinping last week listed consolidating and improving Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre as a policy objective

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng attends a press conference following the 10th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on September 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 6 Nov 2023Updated: 3:02pm, 7 Nov 2023

China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng will speak virtually at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)-hosted bankers’ summit taking place in the city this week, the highest-ranking official to headline the second confab of global financial heavyweights.

He will speak in a pre-recorded video address during a session on Tuesday at the Global Financial Leader’s Investment Summit, according to the programme provided by Hong Kong’s de facto central bank. Representatives of the Chinese central bank, mainland China’s financial watchdog and its securities regulator will also attend the session, entitled “China - the Way Forward”, according to the programme.

He, who was promoted to vice-premier in March, was confirmed as the office director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission on October 29.

The summit at the Four Seasons Hotel, the second organised by the HKMA, will gather more than 300 top global financiers, as well as Hong Kong officials including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and the HKMA’s CEO Eddie Yue Wai-man.

About 90 of the 300 global bankers and financiers attending this year’s investment summit are either chairmen or CEOs, up from 40 at last year’s event (pictured). Photo: Sam Tsang

People’s Bank of China deputy governor Zhang Qingsong, National Financial Regulatory Administration vice-minister Xiao Yuanqi, and China Securities Regulatory Commission vice-chairman Wang Jianjun will attend the conference.