On Tuesday, 19 March, CEIBS hosted the Innovation Forum Beijing with support from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, the China-Britain Business Council, and Caixin Insight. The Forum aimed to provide a balanced and pragmatic look at the country’s economic outlook for enterprises and investors uncertain about its prospects in the wake of the annual Two Sessions meetings, at which the government set a growth target of around 5%.

In a welcome speech, Professor Bala Ramasamy, Professor of Economics, Associate Dean, and Director of the GEMBA Programme at CEIBS, said that “Despite the headwinds that China faces, there is no reason that smart enterprises cannot adapt and continue finding success here.”

He continued to assert that “Moreover, there is an argument to be made that difficult times such as these, in which direct foreign investment is decreasing, for example, are in fact filled with opportunity, and that now could be an excellent time for businesses and entrepreneurs to make a bet on China,” before acknowledging that “if they are going to do this, they must have a realistic outlook and a full picture of the actual state of China’s economy, beyond the headlines.”

Liu Shijin, Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee and Former Deputy Director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, then delivered a keynote speech on the theme "Structural Reform and Tapping into New Growth Potential: Deepening Stable Growth and Promoting Transformation". He pointed out that China's economic development and steady growth must be based on exploring two specific new growth potentials: “catch up" potential, i.e. the potential to lessen the gap between itself and developed countries, and the digital/green potential spawned by new technology, exemplified by the so-called “New Three”: solar cells, lithium batteries, and electric vehicles.

his was followed by a second keynote speech delivered by Professor Xu Bin, Professor of Economics and Finance at CEIBS and Wu Jinglian Chair of Economics, on the theme “Future Perspectives of China’s Economy”.

Professor Xu asserted, “It's clear that, currently, the Chinese economy is in a slump, and facing mounting difficulties both domestically and internationally,” referencing demographic challenges, global headwinds, and slowing growth.

“However, ”Professor Xu continued, “the country still has a good chance of climbing out of this slump and continuing on a moderate to high growth path.” 

This keynote speech was followed by a panel discussion, hosted by Professor Bala Ramasamy and featuring Mohsen Sabet, COO of VT Industrial Technology and CEIBS GEMBA 2021 alumnus, Zhong Mei, Co-CEO of Kidsland International Holdings Ltd and CEIBS EMBA 2003 alumna, Eric Xie, Executive President of BDR Thermea Group China, Chairman of the European Heating Industry Association China Branch of EUCCC, and CEIBS MBA 972 alumnus, Liu Hengwei, Secretary General of the MNC Forum for Carbon Neutrality (MNC50), and Mandy Zhang, Global CMO of smart Automobile and CEIBS EMBA 2018 alumna. The discussion included open dialogue on topics such as near-term opportunities and challenges for the Chinese economy, geopolitical effects on the business landscape in China, and more.

For full event report, please refer to the link below:

中文版:

https://cn.ceibs.edu/media/news/events-visits/24771

English:

https://www.ceibs.edu/media/news/events-visits/24770