World Financial Forum releases annual outlook report
The World Finance Forum (WFF) released its 2026 World Economic and Financial Outlook Report in Hong Kong, warning of global economic turbulence amid the Iran crisis, slower-than-expected disinflation, and diverging growth trends. The report forecasts China’s 2026 GDP growth at 4.5%–5%, driven by industrial upgrading, domestic demand expansion, and deeper opening-up policies, while highlighting risks from geopolitical tensions and financial market instability.
The World Finance Forum (WFF) unveiled its 2026 World Economic and Financial Outlook Report during its Ninth Annual Conference in Hong Kong on May 20–21, themed *In Search of a New Anchor for Stability and Growth*. The report highlighted global economic turbulence, with slowing trade growth, supply chain restructuring, and persistent inflation risks—particularly in core services and energy prices—complicating central banks’ efforts to balance disinflation and growth stabilization. Monetary policy adjustments are lagging market expectations, increasing risks of financial market volatility, while diverging asset valuations, geopolitical disturbances, and rising debt levels further strain resilience. China’s economy is projected to grow 4.5%–5% in 2026, driven by four key opportunities: accelerating industrial upgrading in high-end manufacturing, digital economy, and green industries; expanded domestic demand through consumption upgrades and new urbanization; deepened opening-up via the Belt and Road Initiative and free trade zones; and ample policy space for targeted fiscal and monetary measures. The report emphasized that policy coordination between monetary and fiscal tools is critical to mitigating risks, with structural reforms offering long-term support. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu underscored the city’s role as a global investment hub under *one country, two systems*, positioning it to facilitate dialogue and multilateral cooperation amid economic volatility. Zhu Guangyao, WFF chief advisor and former Chinese vice-minister of finance, warned that geopolitical conflicts, protectionism, and high global debt levels demand urgent macroeconomic policy coordination among major economies. The forum also inaugurated the WFF Asia-Pacific Centre in Hong Kong, focusing on financial governance, economic order reshaping, and sustainable development.
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