On October 21st, it was reported that at the Financial Technology Conference, a key event of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Financial Street Forum—with its theme centered around "Intelligence-Driven Integration and Symbiosis: Financial Technology in the New Era of the Intelligent Economy"—Zhu Hexin, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China and Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, highlighted significant progress during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. He noted that two strategic financial technology development plans have been successfully implemented, leading to a comprehensive deepening of financial digitization, continuous advancements in digital technology applications within the financial sector, and notable improvements in the quality and efficiency of financial services.

As we transition into the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Zhu emphasized the importance of seizing the historic opportunities presented by AI development. With a focus on financial digitization and intelligent transformation, he advocated for the active and steady promotion of the integration of "AI Plus" and "Data Elements ×," steering financial technology towards a path of greater intelligence and innovation. To realize this vision, Zhu outlined four critical tasks:

• Leverage intelligence to foster bidirectional empowerment between AI and finance, driving mutual growth and enhancement.
• Utilize data as a cornerstone to expedite the unlocking of value within financial data elements, unlocking new possibilities and insights.
• Ensure risks remain manageable and establish a robust security framework to safeguard the application of emerging technologies, protecting against potential threats.
• Employ standards as a guiding force to elevate the level of innovation in financial technology, promoting consistency, quality, and excellence across the industry.