China-US Dialogue Will Ease Global Uncertainty, Hong Kong Finance Chief Says

Hong Kong’s financial secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has said increased China-US dialogue should ease geopolitical concerns and provide greater global certainty, even as competition between the two economic superpowers persists.

Dialogue amid continuing competition

Chan told the South China Morning Post that more communication and dialogue between China and the US would be “good for everyone”.

He said competition between China and the US would remain, but greater engagement between the two nations would help reduce uncertainty felt beyond their bilateral relationship.

The comments came as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump wrapped up a historic summit in Washington last Friday, local time.

Chan’s remarks were made in a wide-ranging interview that covered geopolitics, the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting and Hong Kong’s role amid shifting global conditions.

He also said Hong Kong was positioned to play a unique role as dialogue between the two major economies increases.

Apec finance meeting in Hong Kong

Chan also outlined his expectations for the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, which will take place in Hong Kong on October 20 and 21.

The meeting is expected to bring together hundreds of global leaders in the city.

Chan anticipated that visiting political leaders would be able to see Hong Kong and its vibrancy with their own eyes.

The finance ministers’ gathering will take place before this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

That summit will be held in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.

The sequence places Hong Kong’s Apec finance meeting ahead of the wider regional summit in Shenzhen, giving the city a role in the lead-up to the broader Asia-Pacific gathering.

For Chan, the importance of the coming meetings is tied to both diplomacy and confidence, as he linked greater China-US communication with global certainty and the easing of geopolitical concerns.

Source: South China Morning Post