The Business School successfully Conducted the International Symposium on “China-Europe Trade and Investment: Challenges and Opportunities”

On October 18, 2023, the Business School conducted the international symposium on “China-Europe Trade and Investment: Challenges and Opportunities.” The symposium featured keynote speeches by Professor Peter Anterist, CEO of InterGest Worldwide, Professor Li Jiatao from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Professor Wang Shenghui from the Business School. Prior to the symposium, Vice President Li Tao engaged in a warm and friendly conversation with Professor Peter Anterist, CEO of InterGest Worldwide, and Professor Li Jiatao.

The symposium was attended by Professor Ge Jianxin, Director of the International Cooperation Section of the University, Professor Lin Song, Dean of the Business School, Professor Liu Xiaoyuan, Deputy Dean of the Business School, Dr. Guo Xiaokun, Director of the International Cooperation Office, representatives of the 2023-grade master's students and 2023-grade doctoral students from the Business School, MBA student representatives, alumni representatives, and teacher representatives from other schools and departments. Deputy Dean Liu Xiaoyuan chaired the symposium.

Group Photo of the Faulty and Students at the International Symposium on “China-Europe Trade and Investment: Challenges and Opportunities”

Professor Ge Jianxin, Director of the International Cooperation Section delivered a speech. Director Ge recounted the 21-year partnership between the Business School and InterGest Worldwide and extended heartfelt thanks to InterGest Worldwide and Professor Peter Anterist. He mentioned that the symposium offered a precious opportunity for learning and reflection, enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of the current status, challenges, and opportunities in China-Europe trade and investment.

Director Ge Jianxin delivered a speech

Professor Lin Song, Dean of the Business School, delivered a speech on behalf of the School, extending a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the three keynote speakers. He noted that Professor Peter Anterist and Professor Li Jiatao, as “old friends” of the School, have offered substantial support in academic research and talent cultivation, aiding the development of the School. Dean Lin noted that the symposium is of significant importance, serving not only as an important extension of classroom learning but also as a source of many inspirations for future academic research.

Dean Lin Song delivered a speech

During the keynote speech session, Professor Peter Anterist was the first to deliver his remarks. Professor Peter Anterist is the CEO of InterGest Worldwide and an adjunct professor at Central University of Finance and Economics. The company he heads, InterGest Worldwide, is committed to providing services for international high-quality multinational companies, assisting them in establishing and managing overseas branches. In his keynote speech, Professor Peter Anterist discussed the theme “The European Union - a Single Market for Chinese Companies?” He elaborated on the differences in systems and regulations among different EU countries from the viewpoints of value-added tax, top income, labor costs, and more. He also shed light on the differences among EU countries from fiscal and economic perspectives, providing the students with a deeper understanding of the EU countries.

Professor Peter Anterist delivered the keynote speech

Professor Li Jiatao is a renowned expert in international business strategy, holding the Lee Quo-wei Professorship of Business at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Chair Professorship of Management, the position of Regional Editor-in-chief (Associate Editor-in-chief) for the Journal of International Business Studies, and is a Fellow of the Academy of International Business (AIB). Professor Li Jiatao's keynote speech centered on the topic The Signaling Role of Patenting in a Host Country. From the standpoint of multinational companies applying for patents in the host country, he analyzed the impact of bilateral politics on multinational companies and how multinational companies should address bilateral political tensions. The findings of this research offer significant insights for multinational companies on how to alleviate bilateral political tensions.

Professor Li Jiatao delivered a keynote speech

Professor Wang Shenghui, a professor in the Marketing Department of the Business School, delivered a speech on China-EU Trade in the Digital Economy Era: Current Situation, Issues, and Prospects. He began by examining the current state of China-Europe trade and then analyzed the primary regions of trade and the structure of import and export products. Professor Wang also discussed the challenges posed to China-Europe trade by current trade protection mechanisms and third-party interventions. In the context of the digital economy era, he suggested harnessing the potential of the digital economy in China-Europe trade and emphasized that cooperation between China and Europe outweighs competition. He recommended that China and Europe should drive the transformation and upgrading of China-Europe trade under the impetus of digital economic development.

Professor Wang Shenghui delivered a keynote speech

Following the keynote speeches, the three professors patiently and thoroughly answered the questions posed by the students, and the teachers and students present participated in a lively discussion.

The teachers and students present engaged in a research and exchange seminar

The symposium brought together distinguished experts and scholars from both domestic and international backgrounds, along with students from the Business School, to discuss the hot topic of China-Europe Trade and Investment. They participated in a collision and exchange of forward-thinking ideas and cutting-edge research, and collectively explored new solutions to global issues and challenges. In the future, the Business School will keep on proactively addressing the changes in international and domestic situations, focusing on national strategies and the development needs of the capital, and improving the quality of international talent development through high-quality international exchange and cooperation.

A group photo of the teachers present

Following the symposium, Professor Peter Anterist, CEO of InterGest Worldwide, introduced the graduate internship program in Europe that is co-organized by the Business School and InterGest Worldwide to the graduate students present and conducted a selection interview.