Financial cooperation and diversified empowerment between Hengqin New Area and Macao were explored as the 3rd Shizimen Finance Week opened Nov 17 at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center.

Among numerous experts and entrepreneurs present is Zhao Baige, chairwoman of the Advisory Committee of the Belt & Road Initiative International Think Tank/Research & Development International (RDI) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Zhao noted at the opening ceremony that Zhuhai is home to more than 5,000 financial enterprises. She maintained that remarkable achievements in the local financial sector are inseparable from Zhuhai-Macao investment attractions and talent exchanges.

Zhao also expressed hope that attendees would share visions on fostering new financial business formats, promoting new "Dual Circulation" development patterns (Chinese and foreign markets complement and reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay), exploring innovation in financial systems and business, seeking new breakthroughs and development paths of "Finance Plus" empowered enterprises, and injecting new vitality into Hengqin-Macao financial cooperation.

Zhuhai Party Chief Guo Yonghang delivers speech at Shizimen Finance Week [Photo by Zhu Xi / Guanhai App]

Zhuhai Party Chief Guo Yonghang said the city has given full play to the role of finance as the core of modern economy, and that the financial sector has become a pillar industry boosting Zhuhai's socioeconomic development.

Next, the city will step up efforts in financial reform and innovation, deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao financial cooperation, and accelerate construction of the Guangdong-Macao Cross-Border Financial Cooperation (Zhuhai) Demonstration Zone, added Guo.

Toward that end, the event delved into Hengqin-Macao financial cooperation and Hengqin's characterized financial industry. Analysis includes the effect of emerging science and technology, "green" finance, deeper supply-side structural reform and opening up the financial sector.

Jin Liqun, head of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Lu Xin, president of the Chinese Society for Technical & Vocational Education, delivered keynote speeches.

Zhou Mingwei of the RDI Advisory Committee; Benjamin Chan Sau San, chairman of Monetary Authority of Macao; Zhu Hong, deputy head of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; and senior Zhuhai officials Zhao Jianguo, Wu Shi, and Hu Xintian also attended the event.