This week on CNN's chat show Talk Asia the chairman of the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) David Eldon gives viewers insights into the Asia Pacific region's economic future. He also shares his plans for life after retirement in May.

The show airs on 12 March at 9:30 am, 7 pm, 10:30 pm and on 13 March at 5 pm, 8:30 pm and on 14 March at 9 am.

Eldon, who has spent 37 years with HSBC, discusses with host Lorraine Hahn the importance of Asia's role in the global economy. "I think that it is very important, and I believe it's going to get even more important. If you take our own definition of Asia, which runs effectively from Pakistan to New Zealand and Japan to Indonesia...you have two of the largest countries in the world - India and China. Both of which, by themselves are going to have a major global impact."

The chairman also talks about HSBC's stake in the Bank of Communications in China and the World Trade Organisation deal in which China has promised to fully open up its banking sector by 2006.