Around 300 people from the finance and culture sectors gathered to explore the further integrated development of both sectors at the 12th North Bund Fortune and Culture Forum held in Shanghai's Hongkou district on March 31.

The forum, the 12th session of its kind since 2011, focuses on the integrated development of finance and culture, serving as a bridge for the exchange of ideas between the financial and cultural sectors.

This year the event kicked off with the launch of an exhibition on the history of a series of work-study programs in which Chinese students went to France to work in factories to help pay for studying French culture and Western science.

The forum also witnessed the establishment of three professional institutions – the Research Center for High-Quality Development of Assent Management, the Wealth Management Professional Committee, and the Green Finance Professional Committee – by the Shanghai Asset Management Association (SAMA).

The three establishments aim to further the study of the historical trends of global asset management, wealth management, and risk management development, explore the principles and functions of wealth management models, and delve into cutting-edge business in green finance, according to Li Wen, president of the SAMA.

Li emphasized the association's efforts in bringing together major asset management institutions and promoting the development of asset management in Hongkou district, enhancing Shanghai's influence as an international financial center.

The keynote session featured insights from notable figures such as Xue Feng, director of the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chen Kexin, film and television director, Zhang Weiyi, executive vice-president at Principal Financial Group, and Eric Li, founder of Chengwei Capital.

In recent years, Hongkou district has strategically developed a modern service industry cluster in the North Bund area and a science and technology innovation industry belt near the North Middle Ring Road, resulting in significant growth.

Cao Jie, deputy director of the Financial Service Office of Hongkou district, highlighted the district's efforts to establish itself as a new high ground for Shanghai's cultural and financial industries, aiming to enhance the internationalization of finance and strengthen the construction of financial technology.

Source: shobserver.com