The annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), boosted confidence in the country's next stage of development.
Hong Kong and Macao national legislators and political advisers associated with Bank of China focused on the key tasks outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). They discussed how the bank could leverage its global presence and integrated strengths to support high-quality economic and social development. Here are some of their views.
This year marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. China has entered a critical stage in developing new quality productive forces driven by technological innovation, while Hong Kong faces a key window of opportunity to build itself into an international center for technological innovation.
Finance should play a stronger role in supporting China's development into a strong financial nation and safeguarding Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.
Bank of China should, taking into account industry-specific characteristics, better understand the financial service needs of enterprises at different stages of their development and provide tailored financial services.
The government work report is truly inspiring and it has further strengthened my appreciation of the strong advantages of "one country, two systems".
As the most internationalized bank in China, Bank of China is well positioned to leverage its strengths to support national development. First, it will further enhance its role as the main channel for cross-border finance. Second, it will continue improving the quality of cross-border payments and trade finance services. Third, Bank of China will make good use of the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral cooperation platforms to deliver high-quality services that support a higher level of opening-up.
Bank of China is a key pillar of the national financial system and serves as a "financial bridge" connecting the Chinese mainland with Hong Kong and Macao, as well as linking China with the rest of the world.
It is hoped that Bank of China will fully integrate into the development process of "hard connectivity" in infrastructure, "soft connectivity" in rules and standards and "heart-to-heart connectivity" among the people. BOC is expected to actively participate in aligning financial rules, enhancing market interconnectivity, advancing regulatory coordination and mutual recognition in the Greater Bay Area, and to contribute to building a more open, efficient and inclusive financial ecosystem in the region.
Financial strength should be leveraged to help break down institutional barriers affecting the flow of capital, talent and data across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao — and to provide higher-quality, more efficient and secure financial support for enterprises in the Greater Bay Area to "go global" and to "bring in" investments.
Efforts should also focus on improving the inclusiveness, convenience and security of financial services. This will enable residents across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to genuinely experience the convenience and warmth brought by the Greater Bay Area integration into everyday scenarios such as cross-border payments, wealth management, elderly care and healthcare, education and housing.
Macao's future lies in its deeper integration into the overall national development strategy.
It is recommended to further leverage Macao's unique institutional advantages as a "free port" and a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and accelerate the development of a coordinated framework linking Nansha, Hengqin, and Macao.
BOC Macao Branch can take this opportunity to accumulate experience in the cross-border application of central bank digital currencies, providing a "Macao model" for exploring deeper digital currency cooperation with Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries as well as Belt and Road partner countries — thereby achieving the dual goals of serving national strategies and promoting diversified local economic development.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan presents important opportunities for Macao's high-quality economic and social development during its 3rd Five-Year Plan period. Moving forwards, efforts should take the integrated development of Hengqin and Macao as a key driver and further leverage the distinctive strengths and strong vitality of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.
Bank of China has consistently taken serving the appropriately diversified development of Macao's economy and promoting its faster integration into the overall national development as its primary mission.
On the new journey, BOC will strive to write a new chapter of advancing together with the motherland and moving forwards alongside Macao society.
This year's government work report emphasizes the need to leverage the unique advantages and important role of Hong Kong and Macao in relying on the motherland while connecting with the world, so as to promote their long-term prosperity and stability.
As 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Bank of China (Hong Kong) will fully and accurately grasp its role in serving the overall framework of "one country, two systems".
Focusing on key tasks such as building a strong domestic market, fostering new growth drivers and expanding high-standard opening-up, BOCHK will identify effective points of alignment among implementing national strategies, advancing the Group's development strategy and achieving its own high-quality and sustainable growth.
BOCHK will actively leverage its role as a core strategic hub in global development and make greater contributions to building China into a strong financial nation and promoting Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.
The government work report notes the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and highlights that Chinese modernization has made solid new progress. It also sets out the main goals and key tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, making it an inspiring and motivating report.
Bank of China will actively promote the appropriately diversified development of Macao's economy, implement the new "Macao + Hengqin" development positioning, accelerate the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and advance the development of "one center (building Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure), one platform (establishing a service platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries), and one base (creating a base for exchanges and cooperation where Chinese culture is mainstream and diverse cultures coexist)".
BOC will also actively participate in and support the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, build a higher-level platform for opening-up, and make greater contributions to the better development of Macao.