Global Realignments Redefine CICC’s Growth Strategy

China International Capital Corp (CICC) is sharpening its focus on Southeast Asia and the Middle East as political and economic shifts push Chinese corporates and family wealth toward new global destinations. Chairman Chen Liang emphasized that Asia’s expanding high-net-worth population, coupled with rapid adoption of digital finance and artificial intelligence, is reshaping demand for cross-border wealth planning and strategic investment solutions.

CICC sees these changes as a structural opportunity. With more Chinese companies diversifying overseas, the bank is leveraging its international network to support outbound strategies while simultaneously facilitating the entry of global investors into China’s capital markets. This dual flow—Chinese capital moving outward and foreign capital moving inward—anchors the next phase of the bank’s global ambitions.

Hong Kong and Singapore Emerge as Dual Wealth Hubs

A core part of CICC’s strategy is its “Hong Kong + Singapore” dual-core wealth-management framework. Both cities have become the preferred base for Asian and Middle Eastern family offices, driven by stable regulatory environments and deep financial ecosystems.

In Hong Kong, CICC has established a global family-office team designed to support ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs with succession planning, cross-border taxation, and long-term investment structuring. In Singapore, the firm is expanding into derivative trading and virtual-asset capabilities, positioning itself to serve affluent clients across Southeast Asia and beyond.

These initiatives complement CICC’s growing involvement in the Greater Bay Area via Wealth Management Connect 2.0, which is enabling more efficient cross-border allocation for mainland and offshore clients alike.

AI at the Center of CICC’s Wealth-Management Transformation

To support its global expansion, CICC is embedding AI across its wealth-management value chain. Chen confirmed that the firm is building automated advisory systems capable of generating intelligent strategies based on real-time data, optimized risk models, and personalized client objectives.

The integration of AI aims to enhance efficiency in asset allocation, risk management and customer engagement, while allowing CICC to deliver more sophisticated, globally consistent advisory solutions at scale.

Deepening Footprint in Southeast Asia and the Middle East

CICC’s international expansion is accelerating in regions undergoing rapid capital formation. The bank has opened new offices in Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates to support financing for energy transition, infrastructure, and large-scale investment projects.

Its entry into the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) underscores its ambitions in the Middle East. Chinese institutions collectively managed more than US$65 billion in DIFC assets in 2024, and CICC’s presence places it alongside China’s major state lenders in one of the fastest-growing financial hubs globally.

Positioning for the Next Phase of Asia’s Financial Transformation

CICC’s earnings momentum reinforces its expansion strategy. The firm reported a 130% year-on-year jump in shareholder profit for the first three quarters of 2025, driven by strength in brokerage, investment banking, and asset management.

Looking ahead, CICC will continue deploying private equity through its “fund of funds + direct investment” model, focusing on sectors such as AI, commercial aerospace, quantum computing, green energy and new materials—areas that now account for more than 70% of its portfolio.