A senior cadre at Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, Qi Bin, is expected to return to the capital for a new role advising on economic policies for China’s next five-year plan. The position is deputy director of an economic committee under the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Qi, with a strong financial background, recently appeared at an event for a cross-border innovation zone.
Qi Bin, who turned 57 last month, was appointed by the State Council in November last year as deputy director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong. With a rich financial background, he is expected to become deputy director of an economic committee under the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the nation’s top political advisory body. This committee advises leadership on strategies for the nation’s 15th five-year plan, set to begin next year.
Qi’s most recent public appearance in his current role was at last week’s opening ceremony for the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. The liaison office is headed by Zhou Ji, who took up the post in May after serving as executive deputy director at the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
The move underscores Beijing’s ongoing emphasis on economic integration and innovation ties with Hong Kong. Qi’s expertise in finance could inform policies related to links like Shenzhen-Hong Kong and Shanghai-Hong Kong, though details remain unconfirmed.