The China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) organized 41 outstanding young entrepreneurs to participate in the 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) online on Jan 18 to 19, at the invitation of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The AFF brings together some of the most influential leaders of the global financial and business community to discuss developments and trends in the dynamic markets of Asia. Co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the HKTDC, it is the most influential financial event in Asia and even the Asia-Pacific region.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event, themed on "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape", was held online for the first time and attracted more than 5,000 viewers from all over the world.

More than 160 politicians and business leaders as well as experts in finance and economics were invited to exchange their views on hot topics such as post-epidemic economic recovery, fintech (financial technology), 5G, venture capital and asset and wealth management, and to look into the future of the world economy from multiple perspectives.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks during the 14th AFF held on Jan 18 to 19 via video links.

In her speech, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor noted that opportunities and challenges coexist in the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that participants could access the latest information and expertise, communicate with each other and establish business contacts, and learn more about diverse business and investment solutions through online platforms even without a brick-and-mortar forum.

Lam said that as an international financial center, Hong Kong boasts a solid foundation and unique strengths, and it will enjoy greater development opportunities in the post-pandemic era.

During the forum, dignitaries, leaders of major international financial bodies and owners of unicorn companies of different countries shared their opinions on the macro-economy and financial situation as well as scientific and technological innovation.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, and Paul M. Romer, Co-Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, offered thought-provoking advice and insights on the new shape of the global economy and how innovative thinking can overcome challenges.

The offline exhibitions of the previous AFFs were transformed into online portals this year.

Besides the global investment projects matchmaking, the fintech zone, a FintechHK start-up zone and an InnoVenture zone were added to this year's AFF platform, which for the first time gathered the world's promising investment projects online and provided a new business negotiation and cooperation platform for investors.

Participants said that they can follow the world's trending economic development in a timely way by attending the AFF and help their enterprises make new adjustments and responses in the post-pandemic era.

They said they also hoped that the CIYEC will continue to provide opportunities for international exchanges and cooperation, and help companies make full use of markets and resources at home and abroad as they help to build the dual-circulation development pattern.