CKGSB Hosts 10th Economic Symposium, 600+ Attendees
On June 22, 2026, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) convened its 10th Economic Symposium at its newly inaugurated Beijing campus. The half‑day forum attracted more than 600 registrations, many of which represented senior leadership from China‑based Fortune 500 companies, including Abbott, Merck, Siemens, Rolls‑Royce and Samsung.
The symposium’s agenda centered on China’s economic outlook and the evolving dynamics of its trade relationships with ASEAN and the European Union amid geopolitical realignment, supply‑chain restructuring and rapid technological change. CKGSB highlighted that bilateral trade between China and ASEAN exceeded USD 1 trillion in 2025, while China‑EU goods trade consistently surpasses €700 billion per year, underscoring the continued significance of both partnerships.
In the opening keynote, CKGSB Dean Li Haitao described an economy increasingly powered by exports and high‑technology sectors, noting that the Global South now accounts for more than 45% of China’s exports and represents a new “blue ocean of opportunities” for Chinese manufacturers and technology firms.
Subsequently, Professor of Economics and Associate Dean Li Wei unveiled a new Chinese‑language report titled “The New Chinese Playbook for Going Global.” Based on extensive fieldwork in Southeast Asia, the report argues that Chinese enterprises are transitioning from a pure export model to establishing local operations, building brands and forming partnerships in overseas markets. Li Wei emphasized that successful globalization requires co‑creating organic business models with local communities, developing adaptable capabilities and addressing complex local pain points.
The symposium also featured insights from ministers, ambassadors and senior diplomats representing ASEAN and European nations, as well as executives from companies such as BASF, Merck, Shell, ATM Capital and WOOK. The event was organized with the support of the European, British, Swiss and Indonesian Chambers of Commerce in China.
Overall, the CKGSB Economic Symposium served as a platform for high‑level dialogue on trade, technology and supply‑chain trends, while presenting a strategic roadmap for Chinese firms seeking deeper integration into global markets.