Student-led business forum hears about Sino-UK opportunities

Themed Vitalize Business Landscape: Connecting the Eurasia Continent, the eighth London Business School China Business Forum was held in London on Friday, with the aim of providing opportunities for global business leaders, scholars, and political figures to gather and discuss the latest issues facing global businesses.

Chen Wen, charge d'affaires a.i. at China's United Kingdom embassy, made opening remarks at the start of the forum that were followed by a keynote speech by Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, who spoke about the Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on the global economy and especially upon Sino-UK trade.

"Growth is going to continue to come from China for the next 20, 30, maybe 40 years…The greatest growth opportunity in the world is the Belt and Road Initiative," Perry said. "What China is trying to do is free the productive capacity and consumer demand across from China, across central Asia, central Europe, and down into Africa."

He said it is in the UK's interests to work with the initiative and participate in it, especially with the UK facing an uncertain future because of its pending exit from the European Union.

"London has an important part to play in that," he said.

Following his speech, panel discussions were held to further investigate the key developments of the Chinese and European economies, with topics including recent trade success resulting from Italy joining the BRI, trade deals between China and France,and comparisons of innovative business in China and Europe.

Seng Yee Lau, senior executive vice-president and chairman of group marketing and global brands at Tencent, participated in the panel discussion as a representative of China's internet technology sector.

"From a micro and macro perspective, I think it has to do with the emancipations of productivity in a sort of growth of China," he said. "When a country has grown in a double-digital manner for the past two decades, what it basically means again from an economic perspective, you have a great demand that is so upgraded by the State owner."

Xie Weishan, chairman of Kmind Consulting company, delivered the last speech on the day and shared the "Eastern wisdom" of his company that is used to help clients build their brands and respond to global competition.

"Globalization brings more challenges for Chinese domestic companies than before," he said. "It is normal and inevitable. The point is how we prepare for that."

He said Kmind was inspired by Chinese philosophy.

"And this is the Eastern wisdom both the East and the West should learn."

Founded in 2012, London Business School China Business Forum is one of the largest student-led China-focused business forums in Europe.