Hong Kong should make full use of the advantages of "one country, two systems" to strengthen its role as a "super-connector" in an increasingly multipolar world, with people-to-people ties playing a key role in making such connections meaningful, said James Chau, president of the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF).
Chau made the remarks in an exclusive interview with DotDotNews after the Global Youth Powerhouse Summit 2026, held in HK on Oct. 5.
Entering its third edition this year, the summit was held under the theme "Where Professional Young Leaders Forge Hong Kong's Next Chapter" and brought together more than 600 young professionals, educators and industry leaders. The full-day event focused on major areas including artificial intelligence, geopolitics, education, capital markets, life and health technology, and startup financing, against the backdrop of the city's first five-year plan and the 2026 Policy Address.
The summit featured an opening video address by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and an opening keynote by Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung, while senior government officials, business leaders and young professionals took part in discussions on HK's development opportunities.
One of the key sessions was the Geopolitics Panel, themed "Super-Connectors: Navigating New Opportunities in a Multipolar World".
The session was moderated by Chau and brought together Ilaria Chan, Chairperson of the Tech For Good Institute; Ellana Lee, Group Senior Vice President, General Manager APAC and Global Head of Productions at CNN, and Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
During the panel, Chau said HK was often described as a "super-connector" in terms of trade, capital markets and logistics, but argued that the value of these connections ultimately depended on the relationships between people.
Speaking to DotDotNews after the panel, Chau said HK should build on the advantages of "one country, two systems" to further project its position on the international stage.
"I think HK should really rely on the best of one country, two systems to project its position in the world," he said.
HK, he noted, is part of China while maintaining its own legal system and offering an environment where people can do business easily. Its English-speaking environment and international outlook, he added, give the city further advantages in connecting different parts of the world.
Chau said the global environment had become increasingly uncertain, with people looking for answers and safe places not only to do business, but also to bring their families.
He pointed to rising inward-looking sentiment and nationalism in parts of Europe, energy insecurity, cost-of-living concerns and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
"And there you have HK in the midst of all this, being a really, really safe and good place not only to do business, but to actually come here and to live," he said.
China-US exchanges need people-to-people engagement
Chau also spoke about China-US relations following Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the US and US President Donald Trump's earlier visit to China.
He said the frequent interactions between the two leaders were encouraging, but stressed that high-level diplomacy needed to be complemented by sustained people-to-people exchanges.
"I think it's exciting to see two leader-to-leader summits this year, in May and then in September, with two more projected in November and December," he said.
Chau highlighted the expansion of the goal for young Americans to visit China, noting that the original target of 50,000 people over five years had been achieved in less than three years, with the new target set at 100,000 over the same period.
"I think it's exciting because it shows a commitment and a recognition that people-to-people relations are what sustains engagement," he said.
"Yes, you've got these big leader-to-leader summits happening, but in between you need to have people-to-people relations, ensuring that contacts and engagement continue all the way through."
Chau said the China-United States Exchange Foundation had been involved in several programmes bringing American organizations to China, including programmes in Guilin, an ocean and maritime studies programme and activities marking the 55th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
He said such exchanges were part of a broader effort to maintain contact and engagement between the peoples of China and the US.
HK should build on strengths beyond finance
Looking ahead to the next five years, Chau said HK should continue to build on its established strengths while expanding into new areas, particularly culture.
"I think HK should lean into its strengths, not only as a capital market, but now as a cultural market," he said.
Chau recalled the late Tung Chee-hwa and his first Policy Address, noting that Tung had already highlighted the importance of developing a cultural district in HK.
While markets and industries remain critical to the city's economy, Chau said greater attention should also be given to people, ideas, thoughts and debate.
"And I think that's where culture really is very important," he said.
"Before the markets, before the economy, you have culture. It's what we are as people. It's what we are as a civilization."
Chau said HK's cultural strengths could complement its role as an international financial and business centre and help the city further connect people from different parts of the world.
Chau also expressed support for HK's first five-year plan, saying it was important for the city to have a clear plan and structure for its next stage of development.
"I'm excited by the five-year plan. I think it's imperative that there is a plan, a structure in place," he said.
He said he believed HK had the people and expertise needed to implement the plan across different sectors, while the guidance and experience provided by the motherland would help HK move into its "next era" and "next chapter".
"I'm really excited to see what one country, two systems will look like in a world of new and unfamiliar challenges," he said.
"I think this is where the experience of belonging to China is really going to count and really going to matter."
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