In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt the whole world head-on blows, leaving global political and economic landscape in great unpredictability. In the face of a volatile world, the 14th China Goes Global TM Conference (the Conference) saw its grand opening with approximately 100,000 participants from more than 20 countries and regions.

The 14th ChinaGoesGlobalTM Conference will be held in remote mode, hosted by emlyon business school Asia, sponsored by the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University (Canada).  The event will take place over three days, from August 5th to August 7th,  insuring coverage of all time zones.   This year’s topic is: Pandemic, Globalization and China.

Greats from Industry-academia-research Communities Sharing Experience of Globalization

The thematic forum, a major component of the Conference, was held on 6 August. Dr. Francesca Spigarelli, executive board of Chinese Globalization Association (CGA), associate professor of applied economics and director of China Center, University of Macerata, chaired the session.

Dr. Francesca Spigarelli, core member of Chinese Globalization Association (CGA) executive board, associate professor of applied economics and director of China Center, University of Macerata, chaired the session.

Shufu LI: How Automobile Industry Forms a Competitive Landscape with Overlapping Interests?

"The automobile industry is a globalized industry. Geely has always adhered to two rules in its process of globalization: firstly, complying with laws and regulations without playing tricks, and secondly, never stopping technological innovation," said Mr. Shufu LI, Chairman of Geely Holding Group, in his keynote speech of "Ten years of Geely-Volvo Globalization".

When talking about changes in globalization tendency and how companies should respond, Shufu LI said that the global automobile industry still needs to adhere to the development concept of globalization and form a competitive landscape where competitors have overlapping interest, and that Geely will engage more firmly in globalization and achieve technological advantages through cooperation and sharing.

Gina QIAO: How Lenovo's Resilient Supply Chain Helps to Combat Pandemic?

Ms Gina QIAO, Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of Lenovo Group, delivered a speech on the theme of " How to Rebound Stronger from COVID-19: Resilience in Manufacturing and Global Supply Chain". In her speech, Ms. QIAO fully acknowledged the high value of global supply chain in the past 40 years in promoting the inclusive growth of world economy, advancing technological innovation and progress and benefiting global consumers. She also pointed out that "every enterprise should be committed to building a more flexible and resilient global supply chain to improve its own immunity."

According to Ms QIAO, Lenovo's response in the face of future uncertainties is to combine globalization and localization, or "global resources and local delivery." Lenovo integrates global superior resources into the entire process of product development, production, supply, sales and service, while at the same time Lenovo is committed to local operations to provide consumers all over the world with the best products and service experience.

The Round Table Discussion started from the conference themes and centered around practice. Joining moderator Prof. William Hua WANG, board member of CGA, Associate Dean of emlyon business school, Dean of emlyon business school Asia, French Dean of Asia Europe Business School were Dr. Yao LI, Chief Investment Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC) of World Bank Group East Asia and Pacific, Mr. Panfeng CHEN, Founder and CEO of chuhai001.com Management Consulting Company, and Mr. Steven ZHANG, Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities. The panelists had a roundtable dialogue from multiple perspectives like supply chain change trends, macroeconomic trends, cross-cultural exchanges, and the globalization of Chinese companies.

Online Round Table Discussion: Moderator Prof. William Hua WANG (upper right), panelist Dr. Yao LI (upper left), Panfeng CHEN (lower right) and Steven ZHANG (lower left).

The Release of Momentous Report Salutes Top 100 Chinese Companies under Belt & Road Initiative

At the conference, emlyon business school in conjunction with National Business Daily released the English version of the momentous report Top 100 Chinese Companies by Contributions to Belt & Road Initiative Host Countries (the Report).

Mr. Da WEN, Chairman and editor-in-chief of National Business Daily, reviewed in his speech the original purpose of the Report. According to Mr. WEN, this report was co-founded by National Business Daily and emlyon business school in 2019 to study the contribution by Chinese companies to “Belt and Road” initiative host countries so to provide a reference system and indicator system for the green investment and development of Chinese enterprises.

Mr. Da WEN, Chairman of National Business Daily, delivering a speech.

Centering on the main content and core views in the report, Prof. Junsong CHEN, Assistant Dean of emlyon business school Asia, and Ms. Suying LAN, Senior Editor at NBD International Communication Center, conducted an in-depth interpretation of the report. According to them, this report has created an evaluation system and model for contribution by Chinese companies to "Belt and Road" host countries from four dimensions, including the rate of return on foreign investment, ESG, self-value added, and the investment value of the target country, and has summarized the successful experience of Chinese companies in their “expedition” under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Prof. Junsong CHEN, Assistant Dean of emlyon business school Asia, having a dialogue with Ms. Suying LAN, Senior Editor at NBD International Communication Center.

Top Academic Researches Contribute Global Business Intelligence

The China Goes Global Conference, which has been known for its high academic excellence, hosted a series of academic forums and seminars.

PhD Workshop is focused on PhD students and will support their training, sharpening scientific writing and academic skills related to publication andthe  paper revision process. Speakers of the workshop are  leading scholars in the International Business domain and editors of top level journals. This doctoral workshop is dedicated to presentations of research ideas from some select doctoral students who will receive feedback and suggestions from  senior academics.

This year, there will be a series of eleven short presentations by academics from around the world. This is a unique opportunity for established professors, rising academics, and graduate students to share their views on Chinese enterprises and globalization in a collegial setting.  The subjects range from micro to macro, from the impact of globalization on Chinese HR managers to the impact of economic decisions on international relations.

Important to mention that this is a long-term project that is going on its fourteenth year based on research and program outreach cooperation among diverse academic partners to gain an in-depth understanding the changing dynamics of world economic order and the role that China is playing in this process as we move more deeply into the twenty-first century.

According to Dr.Ilan ALON, President of CGA and Professor of Strategy and International Marketing at the University of Agder, Norway, CGA is the oldest forum that only focuses on the going global of Chinese companies. Due to the impact of the pandemic, this conference used a new virtual form to dialogue with the world's top elites on hot topics such as global development and Sino-US relations. Professor Ilan ALON and Professor Carolyn EGRI, Associate Dean of Beedie Business School, Simon Fraser University, the sponsor of the Conference, respectively extended their wishes to the success of the event.

Dr.Ilan ALON, President of CGA and Professor of Strategy and International Marketing at the University of Agder, Norway and Professor Carolyn EGRI, Associate Dean of Beedie Business School, Simon Fraser University, is delivering speeches.

The three-day event has come to a successful conclusion. Experts and scholars from all sectors have conducted thorough discussions on the "Pandemic, Globalization and China" with rational voices. In the future, emlyon business school will continue to integrate superior resources to promote the integration and interaction between industries, universities and research institutes, and further contribute to China's economic and commercial progress.