May 22, 2026: CEIBS Innovation Forum Hong Kong analyzed the city's future as financial hub. Keynotes on capital flows, renminbi, AI by de Villepin & Huang Haizhou.
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2026 CEIBS Innovation Forum Hong Kong
As the global financial system undergoes profound restructuring, Hong Kong has a rare opportunity to strengthen its position as a leading international financial centre. Rising geopolitical competition, security-driven globalisation, and rapid technological change are reshaping capital flows and global markets — creating renewed demand for jurisdictions with strong institutions, deep connectivity, and access to both China and international capital.
To examine Hong Kong’s future in a rapidly changing global economy, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) hosted the 2026 CEIBS Innovation Forum at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center on May 22. Under the theme “Where Capital Flows Next: Hong Kong in a Rewired Global Economy,” the forum brought together leaders from business, government, and academia to discuss geopolitics, capital flows, renminbi internationalisation, and the city’s future as a global centre for finance and innovation. The event was hosted by Hobbs Liu, CEIBS Assistant President and Shenzhen Campus Chief Representative.
CEIBS Co-President (European) Frank Bournois
Delivering a welcome address, CEIBS Co-President (European) Frank Bournois reflected on the fact that, as a business school founded as a joint venture between the EU and China, CEIBS has long been committed to fostering dialogue between China and the global business community, and that the day’s forum was taking place at a moment of profound global transformation amid geopolitical shifts, technological disruption, and the restructuring of global capital flows that are reshaping the international economic landscape.
In this rapidly evolving environment, Prof. Bournois said, Hong Kong’s role is becoming increasingly significant, not only as a leading international financial centre, but also as a vital bridge connecting China and the world — linking innovation with capital, and enterprises with global markets. “CEIBS is at the intersection at all of this,” he continued, “It is only through the development of talent that we can tackle the disruptions that face us today. At CEIBS, we believe business schools have an important responsibility — not only to educate future leaders, but also to help them navigate uncertainty and better understand global transformations.”
Head of Programs and Strategic Developments at Asia Society Hong Kong Center Dorothy Chan
Dorothy Chan, Head of Programs and Strategic Development for event co-organisers Asia Society Hong Kong Center, then delivered her own welcome address. Outlining Asia Society’s founding mission to “build bridges of understanding,” Ms. Chan highlighted the notable similarities between Asia Society Hong Kong Center and CEIBS’ core goals of facilitating knowledge exchange between East and West.
“We are experiencing profound changes,” she said, “which are changing the way we work, how capital is deployed, and how companies and industries stay competitive.” In a rapidly changing world, she concluded, Hong Kong has the infrastructure, the governance experience and human capital to channel capital and shape the responsible deployment of new technologies and connectivity, and serve as a gateway for Chinese enterprises going global.
Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Joseph H. L. Chan, JP
Joseph H. L. Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, then delivered an opening address. Describing Hong Kong as standing at a pivotal juncture amid a rapidly restructuring global economy, he emphasised the city’s unique ability to position itself as Asia’s leading international financial centre.
On the one hand, he said, Hong Kong’s preferential access to the Chinese mainland market and its ability to facilitate cross-border capital flows allow it to benefit from the continued expansion and globalisation of Chinese companies. On the other, its well-established common law legal system, independent currency, and globally compatible tax regime enable it to integrate seamlessly into an increasingly complex international financial system. Taken together, he said, “this makes Hong Kong a trusted base for global operations and a preferred platform for companies seeking to raise capital and expand internationally.”
“Our position is consistently recognised internationally,” Secretary Chan continued. “Under the Global Financial Centres Index, Hong Kong ranks number three in the world and number one in Asia, and if we look at the sub-sectors, Hong Kong actually tops the league table globally in terms of fintech offerings, banking, finance, and insurance sectors, and we are also ranked second globally in investment management.” In conclusion, he expressed his confidence in Hong Kong’s ability to further strengthen its position as a leading global financial hub, stock exchange, and IPO destination, building on its strong performance in recent years. “In the future, capital flows will be shaped by trust, connectivity, and innovation,” he concluded, “all of which Hong Kong possesses in full.”
CEIBS Distinguished Professor and former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin
The event’s first keynote speech was then delivered by Dominique de Villepin, CEIBS Distinguished Professor and former Prime Minister of France, who spoke on the theme “The Reshaping of the Global Order and Major Power Relations.” In an initial assessment of current great power dynamics, he observed that “today’s great powers are acting rationally from their own perspectives, but when these perspectives come together, they cause tension,” adding that “each side wants the benefits of connection, while limiting the vulnerabilities that connection creates; this results in a kind of selective recalibration.” This trend, he argued, extends beyond US-China relations and reflects the emergence of a more complex multipolar order, with countries such as India and the Gulf states acting more selectively, proactively, and independently, while Europe faces growing pressure to leverage its economic weight, diplomatic tradition, and regulatory expertise to avoid becoming a purely defensive actor.
Turning to Hong Kong’s position within this increasingly complex environment, Prof. de Villepin noted that the city’s growing role as an offshore renminbi hub “illustrates how, today, financial centres can become strategic connectors in a more fragmented system.” The future financial order, he continued, is unlikely to involve a simple replacement of the US dollar, but rather a more “layered” system in which the dollar maintains its dominance alongside regional currency structures, digital currencies, and cross-border transactions facilitated by tokenisation and technological innovation. This evolution also demonstrates, he said, that technology is no longer merely an economic sector, but increasingly a domain of sovereignty and security. “All of these technologies are becoming instruments of power,” he said, “and those countries that control them will set the rules of political and economic life.”
Discussing the implications of an emerging multipolar order, Prof. de Villepin asserted that “multipolarity can cause balance, but also disorder; multilateralism can provide multipolarity with structure, which is urgent in three areas: one, regional security; two, economic resilience, as states work to reduce excessive dependencies without destroying the benefits of trade; and three, appropriate representation of regions like the global south on international bodies.” Order, he argued, is sustained not only through power, but also through legitimacy. “The power of tomorrow will not be measured by just military strength or GDP,” Prof. de Villepin concluded, “but by the ability to combine security, innovation, finance, industrial capacity and most importantly the ability to produce trust, which is becoming the world’s rarest strategic asset.”
Member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People’s Bank of China and former Managing Director of China International Capital Corporation Huang Haizhou
Huang Haizhou, Member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People’s Bank of China and former Managing Director of China International Capital Corporation, then delivered a second keynote speech. Discussing the topic “China's Path in Capital Transformation and Hong Kong's Role,” Mr. Huang noted that, following a standout performance among global equity markets in 2024, Hong Kong’s markets had reached a key inflection point driven by China’s “policy bazooka” announced on September 24, 2024, which he said triggered historic market rallies. Hong Kong also ranked first globally in IPO fundraising in 2025, with proceeds tripling to HK$286 billion. This impressive performance was driven, he said, by record inflows from the Chinese mainland, optimism surrounding AI, and interest rate cuts.
Delving deeper into the role of AI in what he termed “Hong Kong’s IPO Renaissance,” Mr. Huang noted a more than 200% surge in global AI investment in 2025. He added that the US and China’s “aggressive competition for AI dominance is creating measurable tailwinds for key exporting economies and reshaping capital allocation worldwide,” while China’s AI ascendancy — exemplified by “the DeepSeek moment” — was further accelerating Hong Kong’s emergence as a leading hub for technology listings and capital formation. “China's AI innovation is also creating a new ecosystem,” he added, “starting in Asia, but I think it will eventually expand to the rest of the world.”
Turning to Hong Kong’s strategic outlook, Mr. Huang stated that the structural turning point initiated by China’s 2024 policy pivot, AI’s emergence as a pillar of global economic growth, Hong Kong’s firmly established role as the primary conduit for Chinese companies accessing global capital, and broader macroeconomic resilience — exemplified by China’s 5.0% Q1 GDP growth in 2026 and Hong Kong’s accelerating recovery to 5.9% Q1 growth — formed what he called “a compelling convergence.” “Hong Kong stands at the intersection of these forces,” Mr. Huang concluded, “as China's IPO gateway, AI listing hub, and the world's most dynamic capital market.”
Leadership Dialogue between Chairman & Chief Investment Officer of Atlantis Investment Management Liu Yang and Prof. Dominique de Villepin
Prof. de Villepin then returned to the stage to participate in a Leadership Dialogue moderated by Liu Yang, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Atlantis Investment Management, centred on the theme “Strategic Opportunities for Hong Kong Amid Global Economic Change.” The discussion explored the intersection of geopolitics, economic restructuring, technological transformation, and the evolving role of financial centres in an increasingly fragmented international system.
Opening the dialogue, Ms. Liu asked, “Beyond economics and trade, is the world entering a phase of deeper competition over governance models, institutional trust, and civilisational values; and if so, in what way and with what consequences are you expecting?” In response, Prof. de Villepin emphasised the importance of maintaining foundational international principles amid rising geopolitical tensions. “There are two things which are absolutely key for a long-term world,” he said. “The first is the respect of the rule of law, as without a legal approach to the international system, we cannot progress collectively; the second point we need to respect is justice, as without justice, you cannot hope to avoid such problems as wars and revolutions.” He added that long-term global stability would depend not only on economic strength, but also on countries’ ability to preserve legitimacy, credibility, and mutual trust in international affairs.
Turning to the question of power and China’s growing global influence, Ms. Liu asked about the country’s role within an evolving geopolitical landscape and the broader implications of its continued rise. “The biggest challenge for China is not to be the biggest economy, is not to be the richer economy,” Prof. de Villepin said. “It is to be able to balance the hard power of this country by becoming a real soft power.” He noted that in an increasingly multipolar world, the ability to shape global norms, foster international partnerships, and project cultural and institutional confidence would become just as important as economic or military strength. Concluding the dialogue, Ms. Liu emphasised the importance of maintaining an appropriate balance between technological developments such as AI, the power of human talent, and financial capital. Stressing the value of continued international engagement and open exchange, she asserted: “I believe in the power of openness, honest dialogue, and conversations like the one we just had.”
Panel discussion
The event then moved to a panel discussion moderated by Elton Wang, Global Senior Vice President of Helper International Consulting Group (HICG Hong Kong) and CEIBS Executive Education Alumnus, on the theme “Can Hong Kong Become a Strategic Gateway for Chinese Enterprises Going Global?”. The panellists were Mohamed D Butt, MH, Executive Director of Hong Kong Productivity Council; Fisher Zhou, Managing Director, Head of Healthcare China, Capital Markets & Advisory at HSBC; Yang Ming, CEO of Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited; Gilbert Li, CFO of Pharmaron and CEIBS Global EMBA alumnus; and Ashley Li, Deputy Head, Managing Director of FOSUN INTERNATIONAL ASSET Management LIMITED and CEIBS MBA alumna.
Closed-door workshop on “Youth Innovation Focus: 0 to 1 or 1 to N? The Founder vs. The Successor"
Following the main event, a closed-door workshop was held on the theme “Youth Innovation Focus: 0 to 1 or 1 to N? The Founder vs. The Successor”. The workshop was moderated by Henry Ko Hok-han, CEIBS MBA InnoLab Committee Member, Founder and CEO of FUNDel, Honorary Chairman of Flexport and Chairman of the Industry Development Committee on the Logistics Development Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Panellists in the workshop were Wang Tianlan, Vice President of HKGAI and CEIBS MBA alumnus; Kay Tsoi, Founder and CEO of AI-powered pet care assistant startup OMO and CEIBS MBA alumna; Jacky Huang, Director of HEHEGONGYING CULTURE MEDIA and current CEIBS MBA student; and Mike Liu, Co-founder of DingX Machinery, member of the family business Yidu Shaofang, and current CEIBS MBA student.
The 2026 CEIBS Innovation Forum Hong Kong was organised by CEIBS and co-organised by Asia Society Hong Kong Center. Supporting organisations were CEIBS Shenzhen Campus, The CEIBS Alumni Hong Kong Chapter, CEIBS InnoLab, Hong Kong Cyberport, Hong Kong CPPCC Youth Association, The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, The Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, CPA Australia and HICG International Reception Hall.
The CEIBS Innovation Forum series was launched in 2015 and is committed to promoting the integration of knowledge and practice, while serving the transformation and development of business in China. The series provides insights into current business and economic trends with a focus on topics relevant to urban and regional development.
In 2026, the event will be held in Tianjin, Beijing, Wuxi, Hong Kong, Huizhou, Taizhou, Yantai, and Chongqing. By bringing ideas beyond the classroom and into the heart of industry, the event series aims to connect entrepreneurs, scholars, and local development ecosystems, helping businesses identify emerging trends, define their strategic direction, and achieve transformation in an increasingly fragmented and fast-changing world.
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