Some 2,000 business and government leaders from around the world are attending the forum's sixth edition held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Under the theme "Asia: Shaping the Next Global Landscape," the event spotlights Asia's fast-expanding role in the global economy. The two-day financial summit was opened by Hong Kong SAR Government chief executive, CY Leung, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman, Jack So, both representing the organisors of the event.

In his address, Leung said his government would "do everything it can to unlock the vast opportunities in the mainland of China, not just for local businesses but also for businesses from outside Hong Kong".

Leung said he will launch a Financial Services Development Council immediately following his 16 January policy address, "to enhance, elevate and champion the competitive position of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and promote the development of our financial services industry, making the best use of the many opportunities provided by the mainland of China".

So said that, over the two days of the forum, "more than 90 prominent speakers from all over the world, including finance ministers and CEOs of top multinational corporations, will offer their expertise and insight - on Hong Kong, on the Chinese mainland, on Asia in general and the world beyond. All in an effort to understand the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, this New Year will bring."

The forum opened with a plenary session - "Asia: Shaping the Next Global Landscape." It featured speakers Guo Shuqing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Wayne Swan, deputy prime minister and treasurer of Australia, and Charles L Evans, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Along with a panel discussion on China opportunities, the forum offers workshops on China's agenda for reforming its financial system, trends and opportunities in the global use of the renminbi, and the China-ASEAN business partnership.

Beyond China, the forum focuses on Asia in general and the world beyond, with a panel discussion on global investment opportunities taking place yesterday. Workshops range from Asian financial integration to a spotlight on Myanmar investment, and a look at private wealth management.

Yesterday’s keynote speaker was Professor Lawrence H Summers, the Charles W Eliot University Professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. International Monetary Fund deputy managing director, Dr Zhu Min, will be today’s keynote speaker.

Prominent speakers from the mainland include: China Investment Corporation chairman and CEO Lou Jiwei; president and CEO of China International Capital Corporation Levin Zhu; COFCO Corporation chairman Frank Gaoning Ning; SOHO China chairman Pan Shiyi; and vice chairman and CEO of Fosun Group Liang Xinjun.

Other high-profile speakers from around the world include: Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Vittorio Grilli; Korea's Minister of Strategy and Finance Bahk Jaewan; and Luxembourg's Minister of Finance Luc Frieden.