Second Hong Kong – Australia RMB Trade and Investment Dialogue

The Second Hong Kong – Australia Renminbi Trade and Investment Dialogue (Dialogue), facilitated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Australian Treasury, and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), was held in Hong Kong today (Thursday).

The Dialogue was attended by over 130 representatives from corporates and financial institutions.  Discussions focused on how corporates, financial institutions, and investors can take advantage of the latest policy developments to strengthen renminbi (RMB) trade and investment links with China, as well as to make use of offshore RMB capital markets to meet their funding and investment needs.  The Dialogue was opened by Mr Norman Chan, Chief Executive of the HKMA, and Dr Martin Parkinson, Secretary to the Australian Treasury. This was followed by presentations from representatives of the People’s Bank of China and the Australian National University, and two panel discussions comprising experts from the Hong Kong, Australian and Chinese financial and business communities. The panel discussions were facilitated by Dr Philip Lowe, Deputy Governor of the RBA and Mr Eddie Yue, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA. 

A group of senior representatives from the Hong Kong and Australian offices of ANZ, Bank of China, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, HSBC, ICBC, JP Morgan, National Australia Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Westpac are meeting this afternoon to review developments in RMB business since the first Dialogue and to consider ways to strengthen RMB products and services, with a view to facilitating greater participation of corporates and other customers in the RMB market.

Since the first Dialogue in Sydney last year, international use of the RMB has continued to gain momentum. The use of RMB by corporates in cross-border trade and investment transactions has increased, while RMB financial activities in the offshore markets have also grown. In Australia, 63% of respondents to a recent survey indicated that they expect to increase their RMB use in the future¹. Meanwhile, RMB activities have continued to expand in Hong Kong, with the average daily turnover of the RMB RTGS system increasing markedly to some RMB700 billion in March 2014.

The Dialogue is a private sector-led initiative which aims to provide a platform to foster closer collaboration between Hong Kong and Australia on RMB trade settlement and investment, the development of RMB-denominated banking products and closer RMB banking and financial links.

22 May 2014

1 Survey of Australian companies engaged in trade with China, conducted by the Centre for International Finance and Regulation. For details, please see http://www.cifr.edu.au/assets/document/CIFR%20Internationalisation%20of%20the%20RMB%20Report%20Final%20web.pdf. 

Mr Norman Chan, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, delivers welcome remarks at the Second Hong Kong – Australia RMB Trade and Investment Dialogue held in Hong Kong today.

Bank representatives introduce RMB services and products that are available to corporates.

Dr Philip Lowe, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (first from the left), moderates a panel discussion on the macro trends and business opportunities arising from RMB internationalisation. 

Mr Eddie Yue, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (fourth from the left), and a panel of industry experts discuss the latest developments and opportunities in the offshore RMB market.