ASEAN+3 Forum Opens in Hong Kong to Address Economic Resilience

The 4th ASEAN+3 Economic Cooperation and Financial Stability Forum (AMRO Forum) commenced in Hong Kong on November 25, 2025. Co-organized by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the event brings together senior policymakers and economic experts to discuss strategies for enhancing financial stability and macroeconomic resilience amid global fragmentation.

Forum Theme Focuses on Regional Integration

The Forum operates under the theme “Fragmentation to Resilience: Macro-financial Stability and Regional Integration in ASEAN+3.” Participants are urged to pursue deeper regional cooperation in response to increasing economic uncertainties. AMRO Director/CEO Yasuto Watanabe emphasized the need for the ASEAN+3 region to adapt its interconnectedness to bolster resilience. He stated, “To anchor resilience, the ASEAN+3 region must act together to strengthen integration, reinforce our financial frameworks, and ensure that the region remains adaptable, diversified, and capable of absorbing shocks.”

In his opening remarks, Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that “through enhanced regional collaboration and integration, ASEAN+3 economies have strengthened their resilience to shocks amid a challenging external environment.” He expressed confidence that discussions surrounding macroeconomic risks and the evolving global financial landscape would yield valuable insights for future cooperation.

Key Sessions Address Economic Risks and Strategies

The Forum features two major sessions aimed at addressing pressing issues facing Asian economies. The first session, titled “Macroeconomic Risks and Regional Integration Amid Global Fragmentation,” includes keynote presentations from Heiwai Tang, Director of the Asia Global Institute at The University of Hong Kong, and Barry Eichengreen, Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. The session will be moderated by Dong He, Chief Economist at AMRO.

The second session, “The Changing Global Financial Landscape: Implications for Monetary and Financial Stability,” will see keynotes from Julia Leung, Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, and Hyun Song Shin, Economic Adviser and Head of the Monetary and Economic Department at BIS. This will be followed by a panel moderated by Daniel Rees, Head of Central Bank Cooperation at BIS.

The AMRO Forum coincides with the ASEAN+3 Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting, enhancing its role as a critical platform for policy dialogue and regional collaboration. AMRO extends its gratitude to the HKMA and BIS for their support in organizing this pivotal event.

For those unable to attend in person, the AMRO Forum can be watched online, with selected opening remarks and keynote speeches available on the AMRO website post-event.

The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) serves as an international entity dedicated to promoting macroeconomic and financial stability within the ASEAN+3 region, which includes members from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea. AMRO’s mission encompasses macroeconomic surveillance, support for regional financial arrangements, and technical assistance initiatives.