Welcome Address

Wang Hong, President, Hengdian Group Chair in Management, CEIBS

Chapter One: The New Rules of Globalisation

Globalisation is not going away—but the way it works is changing. Geopolitical rivalry is intensifying, trade is increasingly being used as a strategic tool, and global supply chains are being reshaped. At the same time, a new layer of rules is emerging around technology, sustainability, data and investment screening.

As the old rules evolve and new ones take shape, the global business landscape is being redrawn. With the US midterm elections approaching, the direction of US trade and industrial policy will once again be an important indicator of the international business environment.

For business leaders, these are not distant geopolitical issues. They have a direct impact on orders, tariffs, compliance requirements and investment decisions—and ultimately on where and how companies do business around the world.

Those who understand where the rules are heading will be better positioned to navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities. Bringing together a former WTO Director-General who helped shape the global trading system and an expert with first-hand insight into US-China economic relations, this session will explore three practical questions:

How are the rules changing? How should companies respond? And where will the opportunities emerge?

Keynote Speech: Governing AI in a Divided World

Pascal Lamy, Former Director-General, World Trade Organization; Distinguished Professor, CEIBS

Keynote Speech: US-China Economic and Trade Relations after the US Midterm Elections

Sean Stein, President, US-China Business Council; CEIBS Visiting Leader

Keynote Presentation: Crossing the Global Chasm: How Chinese Firms Can Build Trust in a Fragmented World

Daniel Chng, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, CEIBS

Executive Dialogue: Rethinking the Global Footprint: How Should Companies Respond to Rising Rule-Related Costs?

Moderator: Daniel Chng, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, CEIBS

• Pascal Lamy, Former Director-General, World Trade Organization; Distinguished Professor, CEIBS
• Sean Stein, President, US-China Business Council；CEIBS Visiting Leader

Chapter Two: From Going Global to Operating Globally

Hangzhou is at the forefront of China's next wave of global expansion. Following the rise of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaics, robotics, artificial intelligence and innovative medicines are emerging as new engines of overseas growth.

But selling products overseas is only the beginning. As companies move into local markets and build operations abroad, they often discover that the speed, tight control and supply-chain advantages that worked so well in China do not always translate overseas. Local market dynamics, regulatory requirements and organisational complexity can create new challenges.

AI has the potential to lower the cost of cross-border collaboration, customer service and operational management. At the same time, it is creating new barriers as countries adopt different rules governing data, computing power and AI.

So what does it take to move from exporting products to building truly global businesses? Where are companies most likely to encounter obstacles? And how can they build the capabilities needed to operate successfully—and sustainably—across markets?

Keynote Presentation

Wang Gao, Baosteel Chair in Marketing, CEIBS; Associate Dean; Director of Executive Education Programme

Interactive Executive Dialogue: Are You Ready to Operate Globally? A Live Diagnostic of Globalisation Capabilities

An interactive session designed to put participants at the centre of the discussion.

Real-world data and business scenarios will be presented on screen, with participants invited to vote live and compare their views with those of their peers. Drawing on the experience of business leaders in the room, the moderator will challenge participants to assess different approaches, debate key decisions and examine common pitfalls in taking a business global.

The discussion will focus on the capabilities companies need to build—and the mistakes they need to avoid—as they move from exporting products to establishing and managing operations in overseas markets.

Moderator: Wang Gao, Baosteel Chair in Marketing, CEIBS; Associate Dean; Director of Executive Education Programme

• Wang Licheng, Founder, Holley Group; CEIBS alumnus
• Ding Xia, Co-founder of SEER Robotics; CEIBS alumna

Closing Address

Frank Bournois, Co-President (European), Michelin Chair in Governance and Leadership, CEIBS