International Forum for sustainable development gathered political and commercial leaders

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 November 2024 - To celebrate its 35th Anniversary, Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) held the 35th Anniversary Forum cum Celebration Ceremony at Ballroom, Level 3, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong. The Forum in the morning session was officiated by Mr Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the officiating guest, and the celebration ceremony in the afternoon session was officiated by Ms Lillian Cheong, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Mr Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations supported the Forum by becoming the featured keynote speaker.35 Years of Innovative Advancements, Shaping a Green and Low-carbon Future "Over the past 35 years, the HKQAA has been a steadfast partner, providing critical quality assurance and helping to uphold rigorous standards for green and sustainable finance. Since the launch of the Government Green Bond Programme in 2019, the HKQAA has played a pivotal role by providing external reviews for each bond issuance, ensuring the credibility and integrity of these instruments. In addition, the HKQAA has introduced a number of certification schemes, further enhancing stakeholder confidence in green finance products. Their dedication to upholding high standards has been instrumental in positioning Hong Kong as a global leader in this space. Looking ahead, we will continue to count on the HKQAA's expertise as we strive to meet the evolving challenges of sustainable development," said Mr Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in his opening remarks. Ir C. S. Ho, Chairman of the HKQAA, said, "Looking ahead, HKQAA will remain committed to continuously innovating while rooting ourselves firmly in Hong Kong, serving the community, contributing to the nation, and bridging to the world. We will work hand in hand with various sectors to shape a green and sustainable future." Former UN Secretary-General called for collaborative effort on climate resilience Sustainable development has become a global topic of concern, receiving significant attention from both the business and financial sectors. Mr Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, who played a crucial role in the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change and launched the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals during his tenure, supported the HKQAA 35th Anniversary Forum by becoming the featured keynote speaker. He said in his speech via video, "I'm pleased to address globally-engaged HKQAA Forum participants at a time of great importance for empowering the private and public sectors to accelerate action on the UN climate and sustainable development goals through cooperation and partnership." Mr Ban remarked that now more than ever, we need global solutions underpinned with cooperation and solidarity to empower the leaders and global citizens of both today and tomorrow to rise to the occasion and ensure a sustainable and resilient future. The Forum invited local and overseas political and business leaders, experts and academics to share their experiences and insights on sustainable finance, ESG and climate resilience strategies. The league of prominent speakers included Mr Sheng Liurong, Chief Financial Officer, China Construction Bank Corporation; Mr Huang Jixian, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of China Certification & Accreditation Association; Dr Leng Bing, Member of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB); Ms Ma Wei, Deputy Secretary-General, Director of International Cooperation Department, China General Chamber of Commerce; Mr Michael Wen, Executive Vice President of Cathay United Bank; and Dr Nigel Croft, Chair of ISO Joint Technical Coordination Group for Management System Standards (2020 – 2023) and Member of ISO Strategic Advisory Group on ESG (2021 – 2023). The event attracted more than 800 senior executives from government departments, regulatory organisations, Chinese and foreign banking and financial institutions, business associations, academic institutions and green groups. Establishing strategic partnership to promote high-quality economic development in Fujian and Hong Kong A memorandum of understanding was signed at the Forum by Mr P C Chan, Chief Executive Officer of HKQAA, and Ms Liu Zhengying, Member of Party Leadership Group of Fujian Provincial Administration for...