The 2025 Shenzhen International Finance Conference opened on November 19 in Qianhai, Shenzhen.
As a key component of the 19th Shenzhen International Finance Expo, this year’s conference, themed "Building a Financial Powerhouse and Advancing High-Level Openness in the Greater Bay Area," was hosted by Renmin University of China. Co-organized by Renmin University’s Shenzhen Institute (Institute of Advanced Social Sciences, Shenzhen), School of Finance, and Shenzhen International Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together domestic and international guests to discuss financial development and explore new avenues for cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.
Prominent attendees included former Vice Chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission Zhou Yanli, former Deputy Chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund Wang Zhongmin, member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Yin Yanlin, President of China Merchants Bank Wang Liang, Secretary of the Bao’an District Committee of Shenzhen Shu Yumin, Executive Vice President of the Shenzhen Party School Qi Zhiqing, Director of the Shenzhen Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Liao Zibin, former Director-General of the International Department of the People’s Bank of China and former Executive Director for China at the International Monetary Fund Zhang Zhixiang, and Chairman of Shenzhen Publishing Group Tang Hanlong. Renmin University President Lin Shangli presided over the opening ceremony, which also featured a video address by former Prime Minister of South Korea and President of the 56th UN General Assembly Han Seung-soo.
In his speech, Renmin University Party Secretary Zhang Donggang emphasized the Greater Bay Area’s role as a pioneer in financial innovation and openness. He highlighted the conference’s goals: advancing China’s independent financial knowledge system, fostering synergy between technology, industry, and finance, leveraging institutional advantages for financial innovation, and strengthening global financial cooperation to position the Greater Bay Area as a leading global economic hub.
Han Seung-soo noted that a true financial powerhouse must contribute to global stability and sustainable development. He praised China’s commitment to high-level openness and Shenzhen’s emergence as a key hub for finance, technology, and resilient supply chains. He also commended Renmin University’s role in extending academic and talent resources to support the Greater Bay Area’s development.
President Lin Shangli underscored the dual mission of the Greater Bay Area in advancing openness and financial strength. He expressed Renmin University’s commitment to deepening research, talent cultivation, and international collaboration to support China’s financial modernization and global integration.
During the conference, the "Renmin University International Finance Excellence Talent Greater Bay Area Practice Base" was inaugurated. The base aims to bridge academia and industry, fostering talent with global financial expertise to support the region’s development.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Zhou Yanli, Wang Zhongmin, Wu Xiaoqiu, and Wang Liang. Zhou emphasized insurance’s role in economic stability and risk management, while Wang Zhongmin discussed the shift from asset-light to capital-heavy financial models driven by AI and innovation. Wu Xiaoqiu addressed China’s financial and capital market reforms, stressing the need for innovation-driven growth. Wang Liang outlined the banking sector’s transformation to meet evolving economic and societal needs.
The conference also featured panel discussions on topics such as "Technology Innovation and International Industrial-Financial Integration," with additional sessions on global financial markets, policy innovation, and economic outlooks scheduled for November 20. Reports and initiatives, including China Merchants Bank’s "Tech Finance 4×3 Matrix Service Solution," were released to support high-quality financial development.
Nine parallel sessions covered themes like AI, insurance investment, cross-border finance, and talent development, fostering collaboration among government, industry, and academia. Renmin University’s Shenzhen Institute and Financial Advanced Research Institute continue to align with national strategies, contributing to Shenzhen’s vision as a financial and technological innovation center.
The 2025 Shenzhen International Finance Conference serves as a platform for global dialogue, offering insights to shape the future of financial reform and regional cooperation in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
Comments