The 19th Stratagem-NTU Sino-Singapore Dialogue was held on 9 April 2026 in Singapore. The theme of the dialogue was “Rewiring Financial Connectivity in a Fragmented World: Innovation, Resilience and Global Asia Responsibility”.

The dialogue was moderated by Mr Kendrick Lee, CEO of Raffles Family Office Singapore. The panelists included Ms Tin Pei Ling, Member of Parliament of Singapore; Dr Zhou Jiannan, Head of Mainland China Development at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Mr Danial Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute; and Professor Liu Ying, Research Fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, regulatory divergence, technological disruption, and shifting centres of economic gravity, the fundamentals of financial connectivity are being re-examined by the dialogue panel. Panelists noted that financial connectivity today had extended beyond access to capital and market, and increasingly financial connectivity was affected by platform architecture, governance capacity, regulatory interoperability and political economy of trust across diverse institutional environments. In this context, regional cooperation mechanisms, technological innovation, and institutional trust had become the key pillars supporting financial connectivity resilience.

Panelists discussed the importance of strengthening existing regional financial cooperation frameworks while leveraging emerging technologies such as blockchain, real-time settlement systems, and digital financial infrastructure to enhance efficiency and reduce transaction costs. Cross-border payments were identified as a particularly important area where innovation could improve speed, transparency, and accessibility, especially for emerging markets.

At the same time, panelists stressed that financial connectivity could not be driven by technology alone. Institutional trust, regulatory coordination and shared standards were essential to ensuring long-term financial stability. The development of interoperable financial infrastructures would require sustained dialogue and coordination among policymakers, financial institutions, and industry stakeholders to balance innovation with stability and resilience.

Panelists also discussed how financial systems could better support the real economy, including through supply chain finance, targeted financial instruments for strategic industries, and mechanisms that channel capital towards infrastructure development, technological innovation, and sustainable growth. In an environment of heightened uncertainty, resilient financial systems would be increasingly seen as essential to supporting long-term regional development.

In addition, panelists highlighted the implications of geopolitical tensions, global supply chain disruptions, and energy transitions for financial stability, as well as the importance of diversification, regional cooperation, and continued investment in emerging technologies. The 19th Sino-Singapore Dialogue provided a platform for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars to exchange perspectives on the future of financial connectivity in Asia.