Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang tours the trading floor of NYSE Euronext.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang with the Chief Executive Officer of NYSE Euronext Duncan Niederauer.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang presents a souvenir to Executive Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Terrence Checki after a lunch hosted by the bank.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang calls on the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board Ben Bernanke in Washington D.C.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang meets Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on September 26.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang with the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Charles Evans.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang is at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange with its Executive Chairman Terrence A Duffy (right) and Chief Executive Officer Craig S. Donohue.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang was invited to drive a large wheel loader during his visit to the Caterpillar plant.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang flanked by General Manager of Caterpillar-Aurora Jim Blass (left) and Chief Financial Officer of Caterpillar Financial Service Corporation Jim Duensing (right).

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang made a nine-day visit in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago to forge stronger trade ties between Hong Kong and the United States from September 19 to 27.

In New York City on the first leg of his visit, Mr. Tsang met with prominent figures from financial institutions and business and financial communities.

At a breakfast roundtable with American Chinese business leaders and professionals on September 20, Mr. Tsang gave an update on the economy in Hong Kong and enjoyed an open discussion on the territory’s unique role as the premier gateway to mainland China.  He called on the business community to grasp opportunities in Hong Kong.

The Financial Secretary, attending a luncheon hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York the next day, shared with the bankers Hong Kong's development as China's global financial center and as an offshore center for renminbi business. This is supported by the Central Government’s national development blueprint, the 12th Five Year Plan.

On September 22, Mr. Tsang attended a lunch hosted by NYSE Euronext Chief Executive Officer Duncan Niederauer and toured its trading floor in New York.

Speaking at the lunch, Mr. Tsang said that given the relative strength of Asian economies and the opening of China’s financial sector, he saw exciting possibilities for even stronger and closer financial links between Hong Kong and New York.

Mr. Tsang also met with Blackstone Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman and paid a courtesy call on Sun Guoxiang, consul general of the People’s Republic of China in New York.

During his September 22-25 visit to Washington, D.C., Mr. Tsang met with prominent figures in the political, financial and business sectors to discuss the global economy, provide an update on the latest situation in Hong Kong and promote the many unique advantages Hong Kong offers to entrepreneurs.

Mr. Tsang attended the plenary session of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington as a member of the Chinese delegation on September 23.

The annual meetings provide a platform for discussing international economic and financial developments and formulating policies to strengthen inclusive economic growth and help countries overcome poverty.

Participation in the meetings enables Hong Kong to gain a deeper understanding of the changing global economic landscape and the direction of future reforms, elements that are essential to Hong Kong's sustainable development, Mr. Tsang said.

Earlier, he attended a breakfast roundtable hosted by Myron Brilliant, senior vice president for International Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The event featured an open discussion on trade cooperation.

A power lunch with the financial-services industry hosted by HSBC enabled Mr. Tsang to give an update on Hong Kong's latest developments, especially regarding the city’s competitive edge as an offshore renminbi center.

In a meeting with U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, both sides exchanged views on the global economy and monetary policies as well as "Operation Twist ."  

Mr. Tsang held meetings with U.S. Treasury Department Under Secretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard and BlackRock Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Laurence Fink. The Financial Secretary also held separate meetings with Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s to discuss Hong Kong's economic and financial fundamentals.

In Washington, D.C., the Financial Secretary met with Heritage Foundation President Dr. Edwin Feulner and had constructive discussion on a wide range of issues, including the global economic performance and outlook.

Mr. Tsang also met Hong Kong students studying in universities in the Washington area and had lunch with Deng Hongbo, minister and deputy chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S.

In Chicago, the last leg of his U.S. visit, Mr. Tsang visited the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, where he met CME Executive Chairman Terrence Duffy.

At a lunch hosted by Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Evans, Mr. Tsang spoke on Hong Kong’s unique role as an offshore center for renminbi banking, renminbi trade settlement and the issuance of renminbi bonds.

In Chicago, the Financial Secretary called on Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Yang Guoqiang, Chinese consul general for the city. 

Mr. Tsang also attended an event to celebrate Cathay Pacific’s launch of daily nonstop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Chicago.  He said direct passenger flights between the two cities will make Hong Kong an even more attractive connecting hub for business travelers and tourists from the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia.

Before concluding his visit, Mr. Tsang visited Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction equipment. The company has issued a two-year one-billion renminbi bond in November 2010.