As flowers blossom on the Hong Kong Island, a party of guests gathered at the bank of the Xiangjiang River. Recently, the 2023 Urban Development Summit Forum hosted by Far East Horizon was successfully convened in Hong Kong, China. With “integrating global resources and promoting industry development” as the theme, the forum cast the spotlight on individualized needs of high-end clients. Hong Kong’s renowned financial experts, economists and representatives from chambers of commerce were invited to share and communicate with clients.

The welcoming remarks were given by Mr. Ma Hong, Assistant President of Far East Horizon. According to Mr. Ma, 2023 is the year of full recovery for the Chinese economy, and China’s ecnomid development is in a state of kinetic energy switch—gradually upgraded from high growth of volume to high-quality development. Mr. Ma pointed out that Far East Horizon has faced up to hardships and fought courageously while persisting in the “finance + industry” development strategy, and its satisfactory operating results benefited from the trust and support of numerous clients and partners. Far East Horizon is not only a leading enterprise in the financial leasing industry, but also a highly marketized and responsible company with rich financial and industrial resources as well as a worthy strategic partner for long-term cooperation. Mr. Ma hoped that this forum can serve as a platform for collision of thoughts and exchange of experience, to together contribute to the prosperous development of China’s urban utilities.

 ▲Assistant President of Far East Horizon Mr. Ma Hong gave the welcoming remarks

1. Macroscopic outlook

Observing the general trend with great foresight

Seeking development with mature strategies

Analysis of macroeconomic environment

Dr. Hu Yifan, regional chief investment officer and head of macroeconomics for Asia-Pacific at UBS Global Wealth Management, provided an insight into the new trends of globalization revolving around the forum background, and fully dissected the impact of China’s economic recovery based on the new development stage of China.

Hong Kong “backed by mainland and connected to the world”

One of the “Ten Outstanding New Hong Kong Young Elites,” Deputy Secretary-General of Hua Jing Society and Assistant Director of Fixed Income of ICBC Asset Management (Global) Mr. Wen Fan shared Hong Kong’s political system, economic system and association culture such as the chamber of commerce, and offered concrete and feasible suggestions for practice regarding how the local governments of the mainland should attract foreign businesses and investment from Hong Kong. 

New urban development opportunities exploited with cross-border mode

Assistant General Manager of Far East Horizon’s Overseas Business Department Mr. Xu Hao made a detailed introduction to the Company’s cross-border finance business, and indicated that it will continue to provide services in cross-border finance and asset management through sufficient interaction with Far East Horizon’s various industry business units and the overseas financial market.

2. Collision of thoughts

Promoting communication with hot topics

Sharing ideas on emerging trends

Subsequently, Board Chairman of Fujian Zhanglong Group Dr. Wu Ziyi introduced the development history of Zhanglong Group as well as the difficulties faced by this local state-owned enterprise in its operational transformation as the first AA+ Chinese local business and Fujian’s first BBB+ overseas business and its coping strategy. In terms of exploring the capital market, Dr. Wu also shared how to dock the capital market through innovation and accurately grasp the issuance window, so as to make the transition from single financing channel to a diversity of domestic and overseas financing channels.

 ▲Dr. Wu Ziyi delivered the keynote speech

Last but not the least, Prof. Fang Yuhui, Faculty of Economics and Management and Professor/Associate Dean of Management and Business Strategy of the University of Hong Kong, gave a themed speech at the forum upon invitation. With focus on the much-talked-about topic “artificial intelligence and machine learning,” Prof. Fang started from the GPT model and expounded on the influence of AI on economic development and its application in investment activities. He pointed out that although the quantitative investment industry may not benefit from the GPT model in the short run, in the long run the GPT model will probably unleash the productivity of quantitative investment. Meanwhile, Prof. Fang also mentioned problems in the development of artificial intelligence, such as widened economic development gap and resulting environmental and moral issues, and their resolution requires the cooperation of various parties.

▲Prof. Fang Yuhui gave a themed speech

The attending guests of this forum were also invited to visit the Far East Horizon Headquarters at the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Surrounded by a beautiful seascape and the spectacular urban landscape of Hong Kong, both parties conducted warm and sufficient business communication. The Company expressed that it will resolutely practice the strategic positioning of “Backed by Mainland, Based in Hong Kong, Influencing Southeast Asia,” connect its clients with the world against the backdrop of new domestic and overseas environments and economic development patterns, and establish itself as an antenna for clients to explore the overseas market, a platform to grasp changes in the international situation and a channel to obtain global resources.

At the forum, both parties together discussed the path of industry development and expressed intentions of seeking long-term and win-win cooperation. In the future, Far East Horizon will give full play to its geographical advantages as a Hong Kong-based enterprise, continue to deepen its understanding of the development of urban utilities industry under the new circumstances, improve its sight into the trends of urban development as well as the development needs of urban investment clients, and strive to grow with clients, promote the upgrade and development of China’s urban utilities and create greater value for all parties of the society.