Wang Xiangwei Keynote Speaker

Wang Xiangwei is an award-winning journalist. He is recognised as one of Asia’s leading commentators on China and its international relations. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post from 2012 to 2015 and now acts as Editorial Adviser to the Hong Kong-based newspaper.

Wang Xiangwei has been associated with the newspaper for over 26 years, having started as China Business Editor in 1996. He began his career at the China Daily before moving to the UK where he worked at several news organisations, including the BBC Chinese Service.

He retains a positive outlook about Hong Kong’s future despite a difficult three years from the onset of the National Security Law to draconian Covid restrictions that shut the city off from the rest of the world. He argues that it is not in Beijing’s interest to turn Hong Kong into another Chinese city. It remains, he says, the best window through which the outside world can engage with the mainland. Hong Kong’s resilience should not be underestimated, he argues, with the city having bounced back from very bleak situations in the past.

Wang Xiangwei continues to write the “China Briefing” column for the South China Morning Post.