Horasis convened the 13th annual Horasis China Meeting in Sheffield, United Kingdom over 5 – 7th November, 2017 – co-hosted by the Sheffield City Region and the China Federation of Industrial Economics. More than 300 participants from business and government joined an intense two-day programme designed for senior decision makers from China and the world to identify business opportunities and innovative approaches to economic development. Download the report and visit the photo gallery.
Participants discussed a wide range of issues related to China and its new economic leadership role. With the United Kingdom’s historic decision to leave the European Union, the summit also reflected on the implications for Chinese firms. ‘The United Kingdom wants to build on its relationship with China, which has strengthened significantly in recent years,’ said Nigel Knowles, Chairman, Sheffield City Region, United Kingdom, during the opening. According to Xiong Meng, Executive Vice Chairman, China Federation of Industrial Economics, the UK could be central to China’s Belt and Road initiative.
A major theme for discussion was the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (NCCPC) held in late October 2017 where President Xi Jinping unveiled China’s path towards the future. According to Hu Liyong, Chairman, Juru Asset Management Group, China, interpreting the results of the NCCPC, ‘China will work with other nations to build a global community with a shared future.’ ‘China’s economic development is shifting from high-speed growth to a higher-quality development stage,’ said Guan Jianzhong, Chairman, Dagong Global Credit Rating, China. ‘Modernization would be more multifaceted than just GDP growth, incorporating greater concern for social well-being,’ added Jiang Zili, Vice Chairman, Beijing Automotive Group, China. Still, ‘there won’t be dramatic fluctuations in economic growth in the coming periods,’ as Deborah Wince-Smith, President, United States Council on Competitiveness, USA put it. Wince-Smith also stated that China’s macroeconomic environment remains favourable, with low inflation, high savings rates and moderate levels of debt.
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| Guan Jianzhong, Chairman, Dagong Global Credit Rating | Jiang Zili, Vice Chairman, Beijing Automotive Group |
Already now, ‘China makes impressive strides in innovation,’ pinpointed Lord Alderdice, Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom. ‘The international community places high hopes on China to further liberalize its capital market,’ Sir David Wright, Senior Advisor, Barclays International, United Kingdom, said. China is making prominent progress in terms of market efficiency, technological readiness, and higher education,’ Peng Hongsen, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Techbridge Innovation, China, said.
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| Virtual ribbon cutting ceremony |
The Horasis China Meeting is the foremost annual gathering of Chinese business leaders and their global counterparts. The location of the meeting rotates annually, and has been held in Geneva/Switzerland (2005, 2006), Frankfurt/Germany (2007), Barcelona/Spain (2008), Lisbon/Portugal (2009), City of Luxembourg/Luxembourg (2010), Valencia/Spain (2011), Riga/Latvia (2012), The Hague/The Netherlands (2013), Lake Como/Italy (2014), Cascais/Portugal (2015), Interlaken/Switzerland (2016) and Sheffield/United Kingdom (2017). With these meetings Horasis aims to present a systemic view of activities affecting the drivers of China’s economic success and how Chinese businesses interact globally within other nations.
Horasis: The Global Visions Community is an independent international organization committed to enacting visions for a sustainable future. In addition to the Horasis China Meeting, Horasis hosts the Horasis Global Meeting as well as other regional events focusing on India and South East Asia.
The co-chairs were:
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Lord Alderdice, Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom |
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Anson Chan, Chairman, Bonds Group of Companies, Hong Kong SAR |
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Guan Jianzhong, Chairman, Dagong Global Credit Rating, China |
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Jiang Zili, Vice Chairman, Beijing Automotive Group, China |
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Emmanuel Justima, Chief Executive Officer, Modricenir, Haiti |
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Lu Yuebing, Chairman, TsingRay Investment Management, China |
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Lucy Niu, Executive Director, Research Center of Pacific Studies, China |
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Pierce Riemer, Director General, World Petroleum Council, United Kingdom |
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Sun Shengming, Vice Chairman, Ginwa Investments Holding Group, China |
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David Wright, Senior Advisor, Barclays International, United Kingdom |
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Deborah Wince-Smith, President, United States Council on Competitiveness, USA |
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Zhao Jiasheng, Vice Chairman, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, China |
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Zhi Peng, Executive Vice President, Tsinghua Asset Management Group, China |
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Yuan Mingli, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Caiyunapp.com, China |
The Horasis China Meeting will lead to a better understanding and more exchange between the economies and the cultures of China and Switzerland.
Christoph Ammann, Minister of Economic Affairs, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
The strategic partnership between China and Switzerland is very important.
Liu Qingsheng, Vice Mayor, City of Shenzhen
While restructuring and reinvigorating traditional industries, Shanxi Province has invested in new industries. Our economy is doing very well.
Xue Yanzhong, Chairman, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Shanxi Province
China can learn from Switzerland. The two countries will complement each other in the future.
Xiong Meng, Executive Vice Chairman, China Federation of Industrial Economics
The entrepreneurial ecosystem is a world where only the fittest will survive.
Wu Yijian, Chairman, Ginwa Investments Holding Group, China
Postal enterprises today must act as a network in order to fulfil customer needs. With Swiss companies doubling the number of goods shipped from China to Switzerland every year, a direct connection is needed.
Susanne Ruoff, Chief Executive Officer, Swiss Post, Switzerland
In the future the Chinese should focus on the quality of life and their cultural pursuits, which would enhance a further growth of China in the next decades.
Zhao Yiwu, Chairman, Beijing Naton Technology Group, China
There is no "New" normal, but only a continuum of change, we must embrace changes past and predicted.
William Haseltine, Chairman, ACCESS Health International, USA
Chinese entrepreneurs not only have to be innovative but they need to be disruptive.
Eliano Lodesani, Chief Operating Officer, Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy
The main advantage of One Belt, One Road is that the initiative allows road transport to become more efficient with the simplification of customs legislation.
Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General, International Road Transport Union (IRU), Switzerland
China's role in Europe could be essential for the future of human mankind.
William Zhang, Chairman, EU-China Municipal Development Commission, China
The national focus on renewable resources is captured in a new policy, which dictates a percentage of electric cars putting so pressurising Western competitors.
Cai Suping, Vice Chairman, Beijing Automotive Group, China