[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]More than 2,000 business leaders and senior government officials from around the world are expected to take part in the seventh Asian Financial Forum (AFF), 13-14 January, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme, “Asia: Powering World Growth,” AFF 2014 will present a variety of discussion sessions, thematic workshops and panel luncheons. With the global economy continuing to shift to the East, prospects on the Chinese mainland and throughout the Asian region will dominate the two-day forum.

Forum highlights were presented today at a press conference led by AFF Steering Committee Chairman Benjamin Hung, Executive Director and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Assistant Executive Director Raymond Yip.

Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao James Ian Burchett also spoke at the press conference. The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong is sponsoring a workshop on the future of natural resource finance and investment and participating in the Forum's Global Investment zone. David Pierce, Chairman of the Asia Private Equity Forum Organizing Committee, introduced International Financial Week, which features 10 finance-related events.