Due to work reasons, Frenchman Dominic Gertrude travels between Paris and Hong Kong year-round. He observed some positive changes during his visit to Hong Kong to participate in the ongoing Asian Financial Forum. "My friend here told me that there are more and more French people in Hong Kong, and even French schools have increased. After the epidemic, foreign investors are regaining interest in Hong Kong," said Gertrude. Affected by the complex and ever-changing global economic environment, Hong Kong's financial industry is facing challenges. Domestic and foreign investors attending the 17th Asian Financial Forum have expressed that the Hong Kong financial market has a solid foundation and strong resilience, and its development prospects are still promising. "Hong Kong is not only an international financial and trade center, but also a 'super contact' connecting mainland China and the world. It has an open mindset to embrace innovation and strong regional advantages to radiate to regions such as ASEAN, which can greatly promote Hong Kong to become a better economy. We have great confidence in Hong Kong," said Wei Haosi, Chairman of Standard Chartered Group. The steady recovery of the economy is the greatest confidence in the financial market. The latest data shows that in 2023, China's gross domestic product exceeded 126 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.2%, ranking among the top among major economies in the world in terms of growth rate. "Resilience is the key word for the world economy in the coming period. From the perspective of the Asia Pacific region, China is still the most resilient country," Thomas Herblin, Deputy Director of the Asia Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund, said at the forum. Budweiser Asia Pacific CEO Yang Ke stated in the "China Opportunities" section of the forum that the Chinese consumer market still has unlimited potential, and the continuously expanding middle-income group will increase the market's demand for high-end beer. This has also become one of the many reasons why international companies choose the Hong Kong capital market. "Hong Kong relies on the strong consumer market of the motherland behind it, and in the future, the Hong Kong market will still become a listing choice for many international enterprises. We are full of confidence in this," said Wu Bo, President of China International Finance Corporation, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned American economist and head of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is equally confident in the prospects of Hong Kong. He was deeply impressed by the speed of technological innovation and development in China, and said that Hong Kong can also leverage its advantages in professional services and other fields to support the development of 5G, new energy vehicles and other fields. "'One Country, Two Systems' brings long-term opportunities to Hong Kong's financial industry, allowing it to thrive even in the face of severe challenges. 'Hong Kong Chief Executive Li Jiachao said at the forum that under the institutional advantages of' One Country, Two Systems', Hong Kong can create opportunities for businesses in Asia and even around the world. On the 24th, the People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced six new measures, including financial market connectivity and cross-border fund facilitation, to further deepen financial cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong. Li Yunze, Director of the State Administration for Financial Regulation, said at the forum that Hong Kong is a globally renowned international financial center with significant advantages in terms of economic freedom, depth of financial markets, international legal environment, and talent reserves. The Financial Supervisory Authority will fully support Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy