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Growing
with China: Forum for sharing and learning
An
economy powering ahead while also in transition. A vast
market with great regional variations. Increasingly-affluent
consumers with quirky buying habits. Investors queuing up
but not quite sure where to put their money. A national
desire to move up the value chain.
In
short, the challenge of China.
There
are other, more specific, issues too. Is the auto market
slowing down? How can Hong Kong's famed banking system help
with restructuring on the mainland? How can Chinese enterprises
build their brands abroad?
Who
has the answers?
The
China Daily CEO Roundtable, for one. And if the answers
are not readily forthcoming, the least they do is provide
a forum for global business leaders to frankly discuss concerns
and issues uppermost in their minds.
So
what do they discuss? And share? And learn?
Edward
Tse, managing director, and Ronald Haddock, director, respectively
of Booz Allen Hamilton in Greater China put the China picture
in perspective:
"The
emergence of China in the global economy is arguably the
most significant economic event in recent history. Headlines
in newspapers around the world proclaim the advent of the
China century. With economic growth averaging between 8
and 9 percent per annum for the past decade, coupled with
a truly massive domestic population, most global companies
have long since recognized that China is simply too large
a market for them to ignore.
"For
some companies, the reasons for pursuing China are the potential
opportunities for new growth and profits. For others, China
is a defensive play, essentially an opportunity to access
low labour costs or to build and sustain an advantageous
business model before a competitor can do the same and exporting
this new model back into the home market.
"Whatever
the reason for pursuing China, most companies are well beyond
the question of whether to be in China and are struggling
with the question of "how", and how to succeed
over the long term. Indeed, for many Western and even Asian
executives, China remains an enigma that is both difficult
to understand and in which capturing the true value potential
remains elusive.
"So
what is the real China? Perhaps the most useful definition
is William Graider's in his book One World, Ready or Not
where he sums up quite succinctly when he says: 'Diverse
and contradictory, China is like a black box where both
optimists and pessimists can find proof to support their
expectations.'
"Winners
in this marketplace will recognize the real China's market
potential, its diversity, and its speed of change; and will
be able to reconcile and make practical business decisions"
they write.
Up
for discussion on Friday, for example, was corporate social
responsibility (CSR). Executives from corporates and organizations
as diverse as Bayer, Amcham China, Metropolitan Life and
Ogilvy Public Relations debated the issue threadbare. The
consesnsus: CSR is no longer sporadic or impulsive philanthropy;
it is a matter of corporate strategy (see report on next
page).
Last
month marked the first anniversary of the roundtables. The
event, with the theme "Auto China" was held to
coincide with the last day of Auto Shanghai 2005 and focused
on strategic issues relating to all aspects of China's automobile
industry.
China
Daily CEO roundtables are positioned as a platform for CEOs
and senior executives of the world's largest companies to
address and share executive insights, working practices
and management experience that is relevant to their operations
in China. Attendance is by invitation only and the delegates
make up a who's who of their respective industries or organizations.
Leaders
from governments, academic life and NGOs are also invited
to share their thoughts on policy and market development
issues. The goal is that the delegates become members of
a global network sharing knowledge and expertise in China
business operations.
In
the 11 roundtables held so far, over 300 CEOs and senior
executives have taken part. Benefits of the China Daily
CEO Roundtable:
A
small group of people of similar profiles; CEO or senior
executive position managing the China operation for Fortune
500 or multinational companies.
Carefully
researched and selected topics of common interest on China's
strategic economic, business, management and society issues.
*
Closed door environment.
*
Open and candid discussions.
*
No self promotion or attacks.
*
Efficient moderation.
*
Strategic level dialogue that provokes further thought and
possible follow up.
*
Personalized follow up.
*
Good and relevant post-event coverage on newspaper and website.
*
Most importantly, a platform for collective sharing and
learning.
Upcoming
events
June
24,2005: Beijing, CEO Roundable/Asia News Network Editors&CEO
Summit
Confirmed
speakers
Professor Anthony Saich
Daewoo Professor of International Affairs
Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
Mr.
Long Yongtu
Secretary General, Boao Forum for Asia.
Former Vice Minister of Moftec, PRC
July
8, 2005: Shanghai, CEO Roundable on China Banking
Enquires
on how to get invitation, strategic
partnership and customized events, please
Email Alexander Wan, Executive Editor, China
Daily CEO Roundable at
alexwan@chinadaily.com.cn
For more information about our precious-
Events, please visit our website at
http://ceoroundtable.chinadaily.com.cn
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