The road ahead

Hu said CCB International's target is to continue to enhance its value as an investment service provider by improving related core products.

"We will also tap into the booming asset management industry, we will put more resources into expanding our business in this field. Meanwhile, we will also focus on exploring opportunities that arise along with the internationalization of the renminbi and the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

But while Hu is upbeat about prospects, he is also cautious, as any industry and business has its risks, he noted. Currently, the mainland economy is continuing to slow down and CCB International needs to avoid any wild fluctuations in the business, it needs to communicate well with clients to carry out risk management together, and also needs to be cautious about compliance, said Hu, who was one of the major founders of CCB International.

In the early 2000s, China Construction Bank Corp was preparing to set up CCB International and Hu participated in the process. "Even in those early days, we firmly believed that we would have great accomplishments as we were backed by our parent company and we were backed by the market of the Chinese mainland."

Hu said he officially joined CCB International when it was set up in early 2004 and is glad to have watched it grow into a great investment institution.

Contact the writer at sophiehe@chinadailyhk.com