A decade after its first gathering, the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business convened its 10th Economic Symposium at the institution’s new Beijing campus, assembling a cross-section of ambassadors, policymakers, business leaders, and scholars to examine China’s economic relationships with ASEAN and Europe. The forum took place against a backdrop of significant geopolitical realignment, restructuring of global supply chains, and rapid technological change—factors that are reshaping how China and its major trade partners do business.
The symposium, one of CKGSB’s flagship events, provided a platform for in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as China navigates a period of global economic reordering. With the country’s future growth increasingly tied to its connections with Southeast Asia and Europe, the conversations offered a window into how business and policy leaders are assessing risks and plotting strategies for the coming years.
A Decade of Dialogue on China’s Economic Trajectory
CKGSB was established in November 2002 with financial backing from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, and it has since grown from a single Beijing base into a network that includes training centers in Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as offices in Hong Kong, New York City, and London. The school offers a range of programs—including MBA, Finance MBA, Executive MBA, a Business Scholars Program, and short-term Executive Education courses—to students from China and abroad.
Over the past decade, the Economic Symposium has become a fixture in the school’s calendar, drawing a diverse group of experts to share insights on critical economic issues. This year’s edition was timed to address the complex dynamics that have emerged as geopolitical alliances shift, supply chains are restructured, and new technologies accelerate change.
The presence of high-level representatives from various fields gave the discussions a comprehensive scope, covering not only economic trends but also the policy and strategic considerations that will shape China’s ties with ASEAN and Europe.
School’s Name and Philosophy Rooted in East-West Integration
The name “Cheung Kong” carries layered meaning. In Cantonese, it is the pronunciation of the characters that in Mandarin read “Chang Jiang”—the Chinese name for the Yangtze River, the country’s longest waterway.
The name also links to Li Ka Shing’s flagship company, Cheung Kong Holdings, providing a direct connection to one of Asia’s most prominent business figures. The school’s logo reflects its founding philosophy: three vertical lines evoke ancient Chinese script, while three horizontal lines represent Western writing. Together, they symbolize the integration of Eastern and Western values and knowledge—a theme that resonates in the symposium’s focus on building understanding between China and its international partners.
For an institution that positions itself as a meeting point for dialogue, the logo is more than a design; it is a statement of intent to bridge different traditions of thought and commerce. The symposium’s location at CKGSB’s new Beijing campus underscores the school’s commitment to providing a venue for meaningful discussion on the forces reshaping the global economy.
As supply networks and political alignments continue to evolve, the insights generated at such forums become essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the current landscape. For observers in the United States, the talks offer a glimpse into how Chinese and international business leaders are recalibrating their strategies in a period of uncertainty—without suggesting any diminishment of America’s own role in the global economic order. The discussions at the 10th Economic Symposium are likely to be closely watched by experts and policymakers across the region as they assess the road ahead.
