Sino-European Finance Summit calls for strengthened dialogue across financial markets

FRANKFURT - Participants at a finance summit held here on Wednesday called for enhanced dialogue and cooperation across financial markets between China and Europe.

With the theme "Bridging Capital: A New Silk Road for Financial Investment," the Sino-European Finance Summit brought together nearly 200 representatives from the political, financial, legal, and real economy sectors.

Chen Longjian, Country Head of the Bank of China Frankfurt Branch, called for deeper mutual understanding of market needs and regulatory frameworks, and efforts to establish a more stable and comprehensive foundation for long-term cooperation.

Thomas Richter, CEO of the German Investment Funds Association (BVI), noted that BVI had recently collaborated with the Bank of China on an "Investment in China" guide to help European institutions better understand and access China's capital markets.

"We have mutual interests in our respective markets. This is a key starting point for creating an environment and framework for mutual exchange," Richter said.

Wang Bo, deputy general manager of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, said that financial collaboration is not a one-way endeavor but rather a "shared path." He encouraged both sides to deepen trust, align regulatory standards, link financial products, and jointly develop market ecosystems.

Nicolas Zippelius, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag, said the co-hosting of the summit by BVI and the Bank of China sent a "powerful signal" of Europe's and Germany's commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with China on the future of financial markets.

Zippelius pointed to key areas of potential cooperation, including continued market opening, joint global development initiatives, and strengthening shared standards. He advocated for "ongoing but evolving cooperation" based on principles of openness, sustainability, and innovation.

The summit aims to provide a platform for asset managers, banks, stock exchanges, and regulators to exchange views on the challenges and opportunities in EU-China financial cooperation, underscoring both sides' willingness to expand collaboration amid global economic uncertainty.