Hong Kong (June 30, 2026) – More than 300 senior government officials and speakers from Asean, the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong joined the SCMP’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026. Long recognised as the international financial and wealth management centre, Hong Kong serves as the region’s definitive “super connector” and “super value-adder”, helping to unlock the vast potential and shared prosperity in the region.
Two of the world’s economic powerhouses Asean and the Greater Bay Area offer distinct advantages in the ever-changing geopolitics. Addressing the SCMP’s GBA-Asean Summit, The Hon John KC Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said, “Hong Kong is now drawing up its first-ever Five-Year Plan. It will be a strategic blueprint that maps out Hong Kong’s vision for the next five years and long beyond. That very much includes deepening our regional co-operation with Asean, as well as other Belt and Road economies, through our unique positioning in the Greater Bay Area.”
Dr Daryl Ng, SBS, JP, Chairman, HK-ASEAN Foundation; and Founding Patron, ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) said that Hong Kong is the vital bridge connecting Asean’s dynamic population of nearly 700 million with the Greater Bay Area’s powerhouse economy exceeding RMB 15 trillion last year. To illustrate the depth of this economic alliance, he highlighted that 2025 export trade between the two regions through Hong Kong reached HKD 680 billion, while Asean’s total trade with Guangdong climbed to RMB 1.5 trillion, showcasing a highly resilient and growing momentum.
International capital and businesses turn to Asia for its stability and agility for sustainable growth. Having recently overtaken Switzerland as the world’s largest cross-border wealth management hub, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as the region’s definitive “super connector” and “super value-adder. To further facilitate the trade and commerce connections across borders, ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) announced its official launch during the SCMP’s Asean-HK Summit 2026. Officiating guests included the HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Daryl Ng, Chairman, HK-ASEAN Foundation; and Founding Patron, ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong).
“At a time of geopolitical tensions that create widespread uncertainty and deepening fragmentation, international capital and businesses are shifting focus towards the stability and immense potential that Asia offers. The mandate is clear: stability is essential for building, mobility for scaling, and agility for sustaining growth. Asia delivers on all three,” Tammy Tam, Publisher, South China Morning Post, highlighted. “High-end international forums like today’s summit forge understanding, connect ideas, and bring together influential people and key decision-makers, creating new corridors for capital, innovation, industrial collaboration and talent exchange. We believe this is where credible news media can contribute.”
Various ministerial-level leaders from Asean member states, as well as business leaders and government officials from the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong, shared how cross-border collaborations can deepen two-way investment as one “ecosystem” for shared prosperity, in areas such as technology, talent and computing power.
Following the main summit held in Hong Kong, the Qianhai dialogue was hosted in Shenzhen, where Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, People’s Republic of China, delivered a keynote address. The event further discussed the latest developments and potential collaborations between Asean and the Greater Bay Area.
For further insights into the conference discussions, read more with SCMP:
- Hong Kong is key to spurring Asean-Greater Bay Area cooperation | South China Morning Post
- New Asean Chamber of Commerce launched in Hong Kong will ‘fulfil long-felt need’
- Hong Kong positioned to link Asean, Greater Bay Area amid geopolitical shifts: John Lee | South China Morning Post
- Philippines courts Greater Bay Area investors as gateway to Southeast Asia | South China Morning Post
- East Timor targets closer Asean-Greater Bay Area ties to spur economic growth | South China Morning Post
- Asean hopes to tap Greater Bay Area’s tech skills with closer ties: industry chiefs | South China Morning Post
The GBA-Asean Summit 2026 is organised by the South China Morning Post, in partnership with the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation and the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong), and with the support of:
- Gold Sponsor: FWD Group, Huatai International, Invest Selangor (Malaysia)
- Tech Ecosystem Partner: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
- Official Airline Partner: Malaysian Airlines
- Knowledge Partner: GuangDong High-Tech Industry Chamber
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