A decade-old forum that draws top diplomats, policymakers, corporate leaders and scholars convened at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business’s new Beijing campus to examine China’s economic trajectory and its evolving partnerships with Southeast Asia and Europe. The 10th CKGSB Economic Symposium arrives at a moment of pronounced geopolitical realignment, restructuring of global supply chains and rapid technological change, making the discussions particularly timely for those tracking China’s role in the world economy.
The school that hosted the event traces its origins to November 2002, when it was established with financial backing from the Li Ka Shing Foundation. From its headquarters in Beijing, CKGSB has expanded operations to include training centers in Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as offices in Hong Kong, New York City and London.
The institution offers a suite of programs — MBA, Finance MBA, Executive MBA, Business Scholars Program and short-term Executive Education courses — to students from China and abroad.
Names, Symbols and Philosophy
The school’s name carries layered meaning. “Cheung Kong” is the Cantonese pronunciation of the characters that in Mandarin read “Chang Jiang” — the Chinese name for the Yangtze River, the nation’s longest waterway. The name also links to Li Ka Shing’s flagship enterprise, Cheung Kong Holdings.
The school’s logo reflects its founding philosophy: three vertical lines evoke ancient Chinese script, while three horizontal lines represent Western writing, symbolizing the integration of Eastern and Western values and knowledge. That ethos of bridging traditions was evident in the composition of the symposium, which brought together ambassadors, policymakers, business leaders and scholars to share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities China faces with two critical trading partners.
Now in its tenth iteration, the CKGSB Economic Symposium has become a fixture in the calendar of events focused on China’s economic direction. The fact that the gathering has reached a decade of continuity underscores the importance of the subjects it addresses. This year’s edition was held at the school’s new Beijing campus, signaling the institution’s ongoing commitment to providing a platform for substantive debate on critical economic issues.
Ties That Shape Future Growth
The symposium’s focus on China’s relationships with ASEAN and Europe reflects the outsized role these regions play in the country’s economic growth. As the global economy undergoes a period of reordering, supply-chain networks are being restructured, political alignments are shifting, and technology is advancing at a rapid clip. Against that backdrop, the discussions at the symposium provided a comprehensive look at both the risks and the opportunities ahead.
High-level representatives from diverse fields offered their insights on how China’s economic ties with these regions are evolving, and what that evolution means for the broader economic landscape. The school’s decade-long track record in convening such discussions matters now more than ever.
As China navigates a period of global economic reordering, institutions like CKGSB serve as meeting points for dialogue between Chinese and international actors. The symposium’s focus on two major trade partners — ASEAN and Europe — highlights the regions that will shape China’s next phase of growth. For observers and policymakers alike, these discussions offer a window into how business leaders and policy experts are assessing the road ahead, particularly as supply networks and political alignments continue to evolve. The findings and insights generated during the symposium are expected to be closely followed by experts and policymakers in the region.
As the global economy continues to evolve, understanding China’s economic relationships with ASEAN and Europe remains an essential task for anyone seeking to grasp the complexities of today’s international economic landscape. The CKGSB Economic Symposium has again provided a timely and valuable venue for that understanding to develop.
