The 2026 Sustainable Global Leaders Summit was held from October 20 to 22 at the Huangpu Expo Park in Shanghai. Hong Yongxiang, CEO of OCBC Bank (SGX: O39) China, attended the summit and delivered a speech.
Hong Yongxiang stated that in the face of geopolitical shifts, industrial transformation, and the accelerating development of artificial intelligence, enterprises need more than just short-term funding — they need long-term capital that combines risk buffering with growth momentum, enabling them to maintain stability and move forward steadily amid uncertainty. This is precisely where the value of sustainable finance lies.
Focusing on thoughts and practices around building a resilient future together, Hong Yongxiang shared his perspectives.
On the governance front, he noted that in recent years, sustainable development has gradually evolved from an environmental issue into a governance issue. A growing number of international clients and investors are paying attention not only to how much value a company creates, but also to how it creates value, how it manages risks, and how it delivers on long-term commitments. In a sense, governance not only determines how a company operates, but also determines whether capital is willing to accompany the company on its journey.
From a corporate management perspective, the value of governance lies in building risk management capabilities. Environmental risks, supply chain risks, and compliance risks will ultimately translate into operational risks. What is managed today may be ESG risks, but what is safeguarded tomorrow may be a company's cash flow, market share, and brand value. The important significance of sustainable finance lies precisely in establishing a connection between capital and management.
Hong Yongxiang also mentioned that with the accelerating development of artificial intelligence, demand for digital infrastructure is being continuously redefined. The application scenarios of sustainable finance are extending from traditional energy and industrial transformation to green data centers, green computing power, and low-carbon digital communication networks. OCBC Bank supports the development of related infrastructure and industry chain enterprises through sustainable finance and cross-border financial services, helping clients seize opportunities brought by digital transformation.
In his view, the core value of digitalization lies not only in improving efficiency, but also in enhancing insight — enabling us to detect changes earlier, identify risks more precisely, and grasp opportunities more effectively.
Hong Yongxiang further pointed out that China and ASEAN are becoming one of the most vibrant economic regions in the world, with more and more Chinese enterprises expanding into regional markets to explore new growth space. However, the challenges enterprises face when going abroad often go beyond financing — they also involve understanding local market rules, integrating cross-border resources, and continuously building local operational capabilities.
Hong Yongxiang stated that over the past year, OCBC Bank participated in completing the first green financing both within and outside China that complies with the Multilateral Common Ground Taxonomy (MCGT) standards, providing financing support for green energy projects both domestically and internationally that meet these standards. The significance of these practices lies not only in facilitating a single financing transaction, but more importantly in promoting the alignment of cross-border green standards and facilitating more efficient and smooth flow of green capital.
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