Inaugural Singapore-Shanghai financial forum launched

THE inaugural Singapore-Shanghai Financial Forum kicked off on Tuesday morning, as the two cities work towards forging stronger financial ties.

The one-day forum, co-organised by Singapore's central bank the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Shanghai Municipal Financial Services Office (Shanghai FSO), will conduct five plenary sessions that touch on a range of topics, including linking China and South-east Asia with the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, expanding offshore renminbi markets, key issues to take note of in asset securitisation, and the emergence of financial technology innovation.

Jacqueline Loh, deputy managing director of MAS, noted in her speech at the opening of the forum that as a leading financial centre in China, Shanghai plays an instrumental role in piloting financial reforms and expanding network of linkages with international financial markets.

"There is great potential for Singapore to partner with Shanghai to develop our financial centres and contribute to the growth of broader Asian financial markets," she said.

Said Zheng Yang, Shanghai FSO Director-General, in a note to the forum: "Shanghai and Singapore have witnessed profound cooperation in the financial services sector during the past years, and I hope the forum will be a new start for our deeper and more comprehensive cooperation in the near future."

More than 100 senior industry professionals from both cities attended the forum, held at Mandarin Orchard Hotel.