Delegates from Hong Kong and Shenzhen outlined ambitious plans this week to deepen collaboration in finance and artificial intelligence, reinforcing both cities’ shared aspiration to establish a world-class technology and financial hub within China’s Greater Bay Area.

Speaking at the China Conference: Greater Bay Area in the Qianhai bonded zone of Shenzhen, senior officials and industry executives emphasised the importance of aligning financial services with emerging technologies to strengthen competitiveness and innovation across both economies.

Joseph Chan Ho-lim, Hong Kong’s undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said the two cities are working closely to integrate finance and technology, harnessing Hong Kong’s strengths as a “superconnector” and a “super value adder” in global financial markets alongside Shenzhen’s dynamic technology ecosystem.

Chan noted that Hong Kong will encourage its fintech firms to establish subsidiaries in Shenzhen, while enabling technology firms in Shenzhen to leverage Hong Kong’s capital markets for growth.

He also highlighted the launch of a dual-qualification bridging programme in late 2025 with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aimed at mutually recognising banking talent across the border and streamlining professional mobility between the two jurisdictions.

This step reflects a broader push to bolster human capital in financial services and innovation sectors, ensuring a strong talent pipeline for future growth.

Industry leaders echoed the theme of reciprocal empowerment between finance and artificial intelligence.

Xiao Ting, chairman and executive director of Bank of Communications (Hong Kong), emphasised that AI and finance can “empower each other,” with his institution tagging AI as a priority for financial support in alignment with national strategies to expand AI application.

Against this backdrop, authorities in both cities recently unveiled a three-year action plan for jointly building a Hong Kong-Shenzhen global fintech hub, aiming to leverage Hong Kong’s established financial infrastructure and Shenzhen’s technology prowess to drive innovation, digital finance, green and inclusive finance, and cross-border data platforms by 2027.

Analysts say these developments reflect long-term strategic commitments to deepen cross-border integration across financial markets, technology innovation and talent development, reinforcing the Greater Bay Area’s position as a leading innovation corridor.

By aligning capital markets, regulatory frameworks and technological ecosystems, Hong Kong and Shenzhen aim to accelerate the adoption of AI in finance and expand collaborative platforms that will support startups, scale-ups and global investors alike.

Such efforts could not only invigorate regional economic growth but also position the Greater Bay Area as a globally competitive centre for advanced financial and tech services.