2014 news chinesedreamtomorrow

Realising the Chinese Dream: Cambridge-Beijing forum takes place tomorrow

24 March 2014

The article at a glance

The role of the free-market economy in nurturing entrepreneurship, how Chinese banks have facilitated the growth of SMEs and the part played …

Realising the Chinese DreamThe role of the free-market economy in nurturing entrepreneurship, how Chinese banks have facilitated the growth of SMEs and the part played by local and central government are the three key themes to be addressed by the forum underway tomorrow (25 March) in the heart of Beijing.

Academics, entrepreneurs, business people and policy makers from China and Cambridge Judge Business School are meeting to debate the way forward for private enterprise in China in the wake of the reforms proposed by the 18th Party Congress Third Plenum in November 2013.

The three themes under discussion today by key players in Chinese business and entrepreneurship and Cambridge academics are:

Entrepreneurship in a free-market economy: Entrepreneurs Wang Shi (China Vanke) and Xu Shaochun (Kingdee International Software Group) will speak about how their careers (and their successes) were facilitated by the free-market economy in Shenzhen, the first and most successful special economic zone to be set up in China. They will give examples from their own experience of opportunities to bring in and allocate capital – financial, human and raw material – and how they have brought these elements together to create successful businesses.

The role of Chinese banks in facilitating growth: Ma Weihua (Chairman of Wing Lung Bank) will reveal how his bank has worked with organisations, particularly SMEs, to facilitate the growth of Chinese companies and give insight into what has been possible in Shenzhen that would have been difficult outside a Special Economic Zone.

The role of local government in special economic zones: Jie Tang (Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government) will look at the role of local government in enabling special economic zones to function effectively and the challenges of interaction with central government.

From Cambridge Judge Business School:

  • Michael Kitson will talk about innovation systems and competitiveness at a global macro-economic level.
  • Simon Taylor will address the evolution of financial markets both in a global context and as they relate to the Chinese market.
  • Simon Learmount will explore the function of business in economic development and in the development of society.

Media entrepreneur, journalist and talk show hostess, Yang Lan, will chair the forum. Ms Yang is co-founder and chairperson of the Sun Media Group.

Director of the Cambridge MBA and Executive MBA and organiser of the forum, Dr Simon Learmount, said:

We are delighted to have such influential and interesting speakers taking part in the forum today and very much looking forward to hearing their insights and ideas about how to move Chinese private enterprise forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. By bringing together representatives from government, academia and the entrepreneurial and financial community, we expect to have a very exciting and lively dialogue about the role of the free-market economy in China’s future.

The forum, taking place at the Beijing Hong Kong Jockey Club, is being live-streamed to an international audience.