Chen Maobo: Hong Kong is an ideal gateway for Middle Eastern companies to enter the mainland market.

Recently, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po pointed out at a business seminar hosted by China Investment Corporation that the Middle East region has set a grand development vision and possesses strong development momentum. Hong Kong is the freest economy in the world, with obvious advantages of the "One Country, Two Systems" system, including the common law system, free flow of funds, goods and information, simple low tax regime, pegging of the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar, and being the third largest global international financial center. It is not only an international capital-raising and professional service platform for Chinese companies to go global, but also an ideal gateway for Middle Eastern companies to enter the Chinese market. He pointed out that currently about 300 mainland Chinese companies are preparing to list in Hong Kong, many of which plan to expand into the Middle East market. He also mentioned that Hong Kong is leading in offshore RMB, asset and wealth management, and family office sectors. He pointed out that Hong Kong is the largest offshore RMB center in the world, and as more China-Saudi trade is settled in local currency, the demand for RMB-denominated assets and risk management products by offshore RMB holders will continue to rise. Hong Kong is also a hub for ACR HOLDINGS and wealth management, with assets under management exceeding USD 4.5 trillion, and a thriving family office ecosystem. He sincerely invites more Saudi and Middle Eastern companies and institutions to leverage the Hong Kong platform and work together to expand a new chapter of cooperation between Asia and the Middle East. In addition, Paul Chan Mo-po shared at the Future Investment Initiative Conference Hong Kong's experience in various public-private partnership models, pointing out that the Hong Kong SAR Government is accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis as an engine for future economic diversification and a key carrier for the development of innovative technology industries, providing more high-quality employment opportunities for residents. Hong Kong is taking a more flexible and adaptive approach to developing the Northern Metropolis, introducing various measures to attract companies in the innovation and technology sector, such as flexible land allocation, talent importation, joint investment, etc., to accelerate the planning and development of the industry. Another example of public-private partnership is the establishment of Hong Kong Investment Management Limited by the Hong Kong government as patient capital, leveraging common investments to attract companies to settle and nurture the industrial ecosystem, and cooperating with other funds in the market to guide more funds into industries with strategic value, thereby enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in the long term and creating more high-quality employment opportunities for society.