CKGSB Hosts 10th Economic Symposium in Beijing
Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) held its 10th Economic Symposium at its new Beijing campus on June 22, 2026. The event convened ambassadors, policymakers, business leaders, and scholars to discuss China's economic outlook and its evolving relationships with ASEAN and Europe amid geopolitical shifts, supply-chain restructuring, and rapid technological change.
Over 600 Attendees from Fortune 500 Companies
The symposium drew more than 600 registrations, many representing the China leadership of Fortune 500 companies including Abbott, Merck, Siemens, Rolls-Royce, and Samsung. China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for years, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 1 trillion in 2025. Meanwhile, China and the European Union continue to trade more than €700 billion in goods annually, underscoring the enduring importance of both relationships.
Keynote by CKGSB Dean Li Haitao
In his opening keynote, CKGSB Dean Li Haitao described an economy increasingly powered by exports and high technology. He pointed to the rapidly growing Global South, now the destination for more than 45% of China's exports, as central to China's next phase of growth. "The Global South is a new blue ocean of opportunities for Chinese companies, especially those in manufacturing and technology sectors," said Dean Li.
New Report on Chinese Companies Going Global
CKGSB Professor of Economics and Associate Dean Li Wei unveiled the school's new Chinese-language report, The New Chinese Playbook for Going Global. Based on extensive fieldwork in Southeast Asia, the report argues that Chinese companies are entering a new phase of globalization, shifting from exporting goods to building local operations, brands, and partnerships in overseas markets. "For companies, globalization isn't just about taking domestic experience abroad, but about building new, organic business models together with local communities, developing new adaptable capabilities, and helping solve more complex and difficult pain points," said Professor Li Wei.
Diverse Insights from Diplomats and Executives
The half-day forum also featured insights from ministers, ambassadors, and senior diplomats from ASEAN and European countries, as well as executives from companies including BASF, Merck, Shell, ATM Capital, and WOOK. The event was supported by the European, British, Swiss, and Indonesian Chambers of Commerce in China.
