HKMA and Switzerland deepen cross-border financial cooperation

By Vriti Gothi

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) convened the eighth Hong Kong–Switzerland Financial Dialogue in Bern, underscoring continued efforts to strengthen cross-border financial cooperation amid shifting global market dynamics.

Co-organised by the HKMA and the SIF, the Dialogue serves as a bilateral platform for policy coordination and exchange on developments in the international financial system. The latest session was chaired by Darryl Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, and Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the SIF.

Representatives from the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), and the HKMA participated in discussions covering regional and domestic economic outlooks, policy challenges, and recent regulatory and market developments.

A significant portion of the dialogue focused on potential collaboration in sustainable finance, financial technology, and market connectivity — areas increasingly central to both jurisdictions’ strategies as international financial hubs. For Hong Kong and Switzerland, both of which serve as gateways to larger regional markets, deeper coordination on FinTech standards, digital assets, and green finance frameworks could facilitate cross-border capital flows and regulatory interoperability.

The emphasis on FinTech and sustainability reflects broader structural shifts within global finance. As regulators grapple with the rise of digital assets and artificial intelligence in banking, and as capital markets face mounting pressure to support climate transition goals, cross-jurisdictional alignment is becoming more critical to maintaining competitiveness and systemic resilience.

Following the official Dialogue, the Swiss Bankers Association and the Hong Kong Private Wealth Management Association co-hosted a private sector seminar. Industry participants discussed financial sector trends in both markets, including the application of AI in banking, developments in digital assets, and cross-border investment opportunities and regulatory challenges.

The seminar also explored avenues to strengthen collaboration between financial institutions in Hong Kong and Switzerland, reinforcing the Dialogue’s objective of translating regulatory engagement into practical market connectivity.

As global financial centres navigate technological disruption and sustainability imperatives, the continued institutional engagement between Hong Kong and Switzerland signals a strategic intent to align policy priorities and preserve their positions within the evolving international financial architecture.