MUNICH, July 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The benefits of a
strong relationship between China
and Europe, and the enterprises of
both countries, was among the themes touched upon during today's
inaugural leg of the 4th Europe Forum series being
hosted by China's leading
international business school, CEIBS, and its partners. Speakers
such as Board Member and CEO of Chinese international investment
company CNIC Corporation Ltd. Mr. Yuxian ZHOU; and Professor
Jianqing JIANG, Chairman of the SINO-CEE Fund that manages the
financial operations of the China-led Belt & Road Initiative, weighed
in on the opportunities available when both sides work together in
today's digital era and beyond.
In his keynote speech, CNIC's Mr. Zhou pointed out that it is
now an opportune time for European companies interested in doing
business with China, where the
government's determination to opening up is at "unprecedented"
levels. With the Chinese economy entering a new stage of
high-quality development and the rapid growth of the country's
middle-income consumer group, there are increasing opportunities
for European enterprises, he noted.
There were also opportunities, Mr. Zhou said, to achieve
synergies at the global level, through a rational allocation of the
factors of production and resources. He gave concrete examples of
how the five-year-old company he leads had engaged in Sino-European
cross-border cooperation, working with 42 Chinese and 18 European
firms on a wide range of projects in areas such as high-end
manufacturing, engineering construction, logistics and commerce,
along with public services. "With the further expansion and
implementation of its opening up policy, I believe China's investment environment will be better
and better, and will provide more and better development
opportunities for foreign companies -- including those from
Europe," said Mr. Zhou. He
told the audience of about 300 Chinese and German business
executives that -- based on the existing data -- at least
6,500 new jobs had been created as a result of the 18 European
projects in which CNIC had played a role.
He anticipates that CNIC, which has accumulated years of
experience in bringing together Chinese and European companies,
will continue to play a role in fostering ties between the two
countries. "The cooperation between Chinese and European
companies is definitely not a 'zero-sum game', but a sharing of
wisdom, opportunities and mutual benefit," he said.
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) partnered
with CHKD (Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany) and CNIC Corporation to host today's
event, held at BMW Welt in Munich.
Throughout the day, participants explored the topic of Enabling the
Future: Ushering in a New Era for the Digital Economy in
China and Germany. In the day's first keynote speech,
for example, Professor Jiang spoke of the role digital finance
plays in fostering cross-border integration and innovation. The
current head of the SINO-CEE Fund drew on the wealth of experience
accumulated in his roles as former Chairman of one of the world's
largest banks (ICBC), along with his current roles as CEIBS Adjunct
Professor and Director of the CEIBS Lujiazui Institute of
International Finance. "Open cooperation is the only way to promote
the development of the digital economy, and it is also one of the
future development trends of digital finance," he said. "It is
necessary to strengthen linkages, promote an orderly flow of data
resources and engage in sharing on a wider scale, wider scope, and
a deeper level, so that the benefits of the digital era can be
fully realised." He spoke of the need for digital economic trade
rules, an opposition to attempts at trade protectionism, and the
creation of a global digital market that is deeply integrated and
provides benefit for all players. Prof. Jiang also spoke of the
need for the vigorous implementation of bilateral and multilateral
economic projects that would deepen cooperation in the digital
space and informatization among countries. He warned, however, that
there is a need to put stronger measures in place to prevent risk –
which is always present in the financial sector – and ensure there
is collaboration at the regulatory levels. "Digital finance has not
changed the risks innate to the financial industry. Taking risks is
the norm for the operation of excellent digital financial
enterprises. Effective management of risks is the key to the
long-term development of digital finance," he stressed. "Financial
clubs do not appreciate the 100-metre sprinters but instead respect
the marathon champions. It is necessary to strengthen network
security, data security and consumer protection, strengthen
cross-border and cross-industry regulatory cooperation, make
innovations to the regulatory model under the digital economy,
enhance regulatory capabilities, and achieve a balance between risk
prevention and control and innovation."
Today's forum also included two panel discussions that looked
at, respectively, digital transformation in the Sino-German
manufacturing industry and how businesses in both countries can
leverage digital technology. The event is the first in a
five-part series to mark the 15th anniversary of the China-EU
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and highlight CEIBS' role as a
platform to further enhance China-EU communication and cooperation,
both in business and culture, along with providing a window into
China's reform and opening up in
the education sector. The next forum will be in London on July 19.
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