The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank states that the world is facing multiple challenges, and Slovenia's Finance Minister calls for "instead of complaining, take action" | Asian Financial Forum

The President and Chairman of the Board of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Jin Liqun, stated that the world is facing multiple challenges such as geopolitical tensions and fragmented value chains, and there is an urgent need to bridge the investment supply-demand gap in areas such as infrastructure, climate response, and digital construction. Additionally, the AIIB announced earlier that it will establish a new office in Hong Kong. Jin pointed out that as an international financial center, "multilateral banks must become change agents," and the AIIB will help mobilize financial development and resources to provide more funding for Hong Kong's infrastructure, driving economic growth and tax revenue through high-quality projects, which in turn will support further infrastructure investment. Slovenia to Issue First Panda Bond Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, stated that the world has not improved but rather worsened over the past year, bluntly saying, "Instead of complaining, we should take action." He emphasized that countries and regions should reduce internal coordination obstacles to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation. He stressed that "being small is not a disadvantage," as small and medium-sized economies still hold unique value in the global financial landscape, and revealed plans to issue the first Panda bond to seek opportunities amid geopolitical crises. Turkey's Finance Minister: Avoid "One-Way Track" in Trade Turkey's Minister of Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, also pointed out that the world currently faces challenges of high volatility and protectionism. Asian economies led by China possess strong competitiveness due to their scale and technological innovation, but should avoid a "one-way track" in trade. He used the tourism industry as an example, stating that China has enormous market potential, and by promoting personnel exchanges and complementary service trade, the trade gap can be effectively narrowed. He also mentioned that global total debt accounts for 311% of GDP, with emerging markets exceeding 230%, making fiscal discipline and optimal resource allocation crucial. This Year is Key for ADB's Expansion Scott Morris, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), stated that this year is a critical year for the ADB to expand its operational scale. Not only will the business investment targets be further enhanced, but new operational projects will also be launched in Turkey for the first time to respond to the newly emerging development needs in multiple regions. He also noted that technological innovations such as artificial intelligence are seen as important drivers for the modernization of Hong Kong as a financial center, which will help Hong Kong play a further role in the international financial system. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, concluded that the Year of the Horse will be a year of significant activities, symbolizing agility and proactivity, reflecting the current rapidly changing global landscape. He pointed out that Hong Kong, leveraging its "one country, two systems" advantage and a sound financial ecosystem, is expected to continue making strides in areas such as cross-regional capital flows, risk management, and green finance, injecting new momentum into global economic recovery and development