CityU hosts Hengqin-Macao cross-border finance forum to foster high-quality development in the financial industry
In celebration of the 44th anniversary of City University of Macau (CityU), the Faculty of Finance (FOF) organized a series of academic forums and lectures, engaging numerous professionals from industry and academia in discussions on diverse topics, including cross-border finance between Guangdong and Macao as well as leadership development for managerial talent, fostering high-quality growth of the financial sector in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).
3rd Hengqin-Macao Cross-Border Finance Forum
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Hosted by FOF, the “Academic Forum and Symposium on Hengqin-Macao Cross-Border Finance: Collaborative Development for High-Quality Growth” was successfully held today at the Taipa campus. The forum gathered industry representatives and experts from major financial institutions and associations in Hengqin and Macao to explore strategies for advancing high-quality financial development in the Greater Bay Area. Jun Liu, rector of CityU and Pao Wai Chon, deputy director of Financial Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, attended the event and delivered speeches.
The forum was co-organized by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the Financial Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone In Hengqin Financial Industry Association (HQFA), Bank of China Macau Branch, ICBC (Macau), Guangfa Bank Macau Branch, Luso International Banking, China Construction Bank Macau Branch, China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited Macau Branch, Agricultural Bank of China Macau Branch, Chong Hing Bank Macau Branch, and Chongwa (Macao) Financial Asset Exchange Co., Ltd. Attendees included Lou Teng Sam, deputy director of the Financial Development Department of the Monetary Authority of Macao; CityU Vice Rector Ip Kui Peng; and over a hundred industry professionals, faculty, and students.
In his speech, Rector Jun Liu acknowledged the vital role of cross-border finance in the current development of Hengqin and Macao. He noted that it would help enterprises access capital, facilitate trade and investment, promote technological advancement, economic diversification and enhance competitiveness, and create employment opportunities. Rector Liu highlighted the challenges that remain in cross-border financial development, such as fragmented regulation and hurdles in data flows. He emphasized CityU’s commitment to serving as a bridge between government, industry, and education, and encouraged students to serve the development of cross-border finance by applying their professional knowledge and skills to conduct in-depth research on existing issues.
Deputy Director Pao provided a brief overview of Hengqin’s current development and future work plans. He mentioned that in December last year, the General Secretary XiJinping inspected Hengqin and emphasized the need for Hengqin to better create conditions for Macao’s industrial diversification. He mentioned positive results in efficient capital flows between Hengqin and Macao in recent years, which have promoted financial services and the development of the financial services platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Deputy Director Pao envisioned further advancement in cross-border credit data connectivity and the organization of more financial business activities, hoping that the successful hosting of this forum would provide new ideas and inspiration for the integrated development of Hengqin and Macao.
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The forum consisted of two parts: a financial forum and an academic symposium. The financial forum was chaired by Vice Rector Ip Kui Peng and FOF Dean Adrian Cheung Wai Kong, with presentations from industry experts including: Michelle Chan, secretary-general of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone In Hengqin Financial Industry Association; Xu Zhiyu, managing director of Bank of China Macau Branch; Deng Hong, assistant general manager of ICBC (Macau); Yang Jingqiu, deputy general manager of Guangfa Bank Macau Branch; He Yiyu, deputy general manager of Agricultural Bank of China Macau Branch; Wu Yuanlong, general manager of China Construction Bank Macau Branch; Ren Tao, director of Economic Research Center at Luso International Banking; Cai Kunshan, general manager of Chong Hing Bank Macau Branch; Zhang Weichun, executive committee chairman and CEO of Chongwa (Macao) Financial Asset Exchange Co., Ltd.; Peng Jiawei, deputy general manager of China Life Insurance (Overseas) Macau Branch.
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Industry professionals and scholars shared their insights on promoting high-quality development of cross-border finance between Hengqin and Macao, recognizing finance as the nation’s lifeline that requires substantial, robust and well-grounded cross-border development. They suggested Hengqin should adopt targeted approaches for future growth, focusing on areas like the digital currency bridge, integration between academia and industry, leveraging the “one country, two systems” advantage, and embracing AI technology. Bankers and financial experts actively discussed challenges faced by local financial institutions, particularly the issue of large institutions operating in a small market, while exploring ways to better serve the real economy, facilitate livelihood integration, and advance financial innovation and cooperation. The discussions highlighted that improving the financial legal system and infrastructure, optimizing cross-border financial regulatory flows, and strengthening industry-academia-research collaboration would effectively drive high-quality development in both Hengqin and Macao.
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The financial academic symposium held that afternoon was chaired by Dean Adrian Cheung, featuring presentations by renowned scholars including Wang Chongming, distinguished liberal arts professor from Zhejiang University; Mao Yanhua, dean of the Institute of Regional Opening and Cooperation at Sun Yat-sen University; Chien Fengsheng, dean of the School of Finance at Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade; as well as CityU FOF Professor Chien-Chiang Lee and Associate Professor Wang Yinggui, who shared academic insights on the theme of Guangdong-Macao cross-border finance.
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Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area New Manager Talent Development Forum
The forum was successfully held recently at the Ho Yin Convention Centre on the Taipa campus. Jointly organized by the Silk Road Entrepreneurship Education Network (SREEN), the Faculty of Business (FOB) and Faculty of Finance (FOF) of CityU. The event featured distinguished speakers including Wang Chongming, distinguished liberal arts professor from Zhejiang University; Adrian Cheung, dean of the FOF; Eva Khong, associate dean of the FOF; Tian Yihui, associate dean of the Faculty of Business; and Professor Xie Dejun from CityU. The experts shared insights on the theme “AI Era Greater Bay Area Manager Leadership Development Strategies.”
Professor Wang Chongming emphasized that higher education institutions should actively participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area by integrating high-quality resources, strengthening collaborative development, and promoting the coordinated advancement of education, technology and talent. He stated that efforts should be made to attract and cultivate outstanding professionals to establish an international high-end talent hub, in accordance with the General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on the new development paradigm of the Greater Bay Area.
Wang pointed out that the active participation of FOF and FOB in the International SREEN since 2018, hosting annual international seminars for seven consecutive years. He highlighted that both faculties obtained the BGA Gold Accreditation in 2024, marking them two of only 20 institutions worldwide to receive this credential, which demonstrated significant achievements in high-quality internationalization initiatives.
Professor Wang outlined four competency standards for a new generation of managerial professionals in the Greater Bay Area: professional ethics, professional skills, professional knowledge and career adaptability. He also proposed three international leadership empowerment strategies: green and sustainable leadership, digital and AI leadership, and cross-border empowerment. He stressed the need to consider strategies on a national level, leverage institutional advantages, and enhance the competency standards of new generation of managerial professionals, thereby making leapfrog development in talent cultivation.
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Subsequently, Dean Adrian Cheung shared his experiences in talent cultivation at the FOF, highlighting plans to better integrate global resources, introduce AI-related courses, and expand international collaborations. Associate Dean Eva Khong reviewed the development and significance of establishing Macao’s collaborative demonstration platform with the SREEN. Associate Dean Tian Yihui outlined five key aspects of the FOB’s approach to nurturing new-generation managerial talent: international perspective, practical competencies, innovative thinking, digital skills, and sustainability responsibility. Professor Xie Dejun further shared the diverse opportunities that students could opportunities under the international cooperation and industry engagement initiated by FOB.
Bank of China Macau Branch Financial Workshop
The Financial Seminar Series was recently held at the Ho Yin Convention Centre in the Taipa campus, featuring Wong Iao Kun, deputy director of the Risk Management Department of Bank of China Macau Branch, who delivered the “Bank of China Financial Workshop.” The session covered various aspects of green finance, including green financial instruments, current developments in green finance, and the major risks facing the field, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of green finance.
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Deputy Director Wong first introduced the two dimensions of green finance: first, the allocation of financial assets to channel funds into green industries through green finance; and second, the sustainable development of the financial industry itself, which led to idea of sustainable finance. He distinguished green finance from sustainable finance, noting that green finance focused on environmental aspects (the “E” in ESG), while sustainable finance encompassed all aspects of ESG.
Deputy Director Wong elaborated on the definitions and specifics of major green financial instruments, such as green deposits and credit, green bonds, green funds, and green insurance. He further discussed the current state of green finance development, meaning that global sustainable finance issuance totaled $1.657 trillion (an 11% year-on-year increase) in 2024, with strong growth in Asia and Europe. He explained that China has initially established a multi-tiered green financial product and market system, including green loans, green bonds, green insurance, green funds, green trusts, and carbon financial products, among these, Hong Kong, as an international green finance hub, has issued the world’s largest USD-denominated green bonds and promoted fintech integration. He highlighted that Macao green bond scale exceeded MOP 120 billion in 2024, with 70% of green loans directed to the Greater Bay Area; while Taiwan set a “2050 Net-Zero” target, with cumulative green bond issuance reaching NTD 240 billion and ongoing efforts to strengthen ESG legislation. Regarding the major risks facing green finance, Deputy Director Wong highlighted five key risk types, including project risks and credit risks, and analyzed the dangers of greenwashing.
Source: Faculty of Finance
