23 September 2026 – A QFC delegation has concluded a visit to Beijing and Hong Kong that reflected the growing economic relationship between Qatar and China and supported QFC’s efforts to expand its institutional partnerships and explore new investment opportunities.

Led by Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater, the delegation’s programme included a series of meetings with business leaders and investors, participation in the 2026 Belt and Road Summit, and the signing of new partnerships aimed at strengthening financial and business ties and opening new avenues for cooperation between Qatar and Asia.

Expanding into new areas of connectivity

The Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong brought together government officials and business leaders to exchange perspectives on multilateral cooperation and explore business opportunities. During a session on the potential of emerging markets within and beyond the Belt and Road, Mr. Al-Khater outlined the sectors shaping its next phase, the opportunities this presents for the Middle East, and the financial mechanisms required to support sustainable growth.

Mr. Al-Khater noted that the next phase of connectivity is extending beyond physical infrastructure to encompass green energy, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, creating new opportunities for investment and cross-border business.

He identified four priorities for translating this connectivity into long-term economic value: focusing on the financial and commercial viability of projects; building the ecosystems needed to support them; mobilising new sources of capital, including the growing potential of Islamic finance to broaden funding sources and support future projects; and developing the capabilities and expertise needed to strengthen resilience and support long-term growth.

Within this broader framework, he highlighted digital infrastructure as a key enabler, extending beyond telecommunications to include data infrastructure, digital financial systems, smart cities and government platforms, all of which are increasingly important for supporting trade, investment and economic growth.

For Qatar, this creates an opportunity to attract regional operations and investment as companies seek greater access to Middle Eastern markets.

QFC can help convert this opportunity into business activity by providing the legal and regulatory environment and corporate structures that facilitate cross-border investment, including funds, holding companies and treasury centres.

From dialogue to cooperation

QFC’s engagements marked a step towards this goal through the signing of two new memoranda of understanding (MoUs). In Beijing, QFC signed an MoU with the Beijing Financial Street Services Bureau to deepen cooperation between the two financial ecosystems through knowledge and talent exchange and joint initiatives. In Hong Kong, QFC signed an MoU with the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce to strengthen business connections through joint networking and business-to-business initiatives, the exchange of market opportunities and industry insights, and introductions to relevant organisations and associations.

The engagements reinforce QFC’s role as a platform connecting Qatar with businesses and investors across regions, while creating opportunities for further cooperation.