(English translation, for reference only)
Distinguished Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs & Culture, Community and Youth, and Business China Board of Director, Mr Sam Tan
Interim Dean of Nanyang Business School, Professor Gillian Yeo
Business China Board Members
Lecturers of the Advanced Leaders Programme
Distinguished guests from the private and public sectors
Ladies and gentlemen,
A very good evening!
1. Firstly, on behalf of Business China, I would like to extend our utmost gratitude to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Sam Tan for his support, and taking time off his busy schedule to attend the welcome dinner of the second Future China Advanced Leaders Programme (FC-ALP).
2. In conjunction with our 5th anniversary celebration last year, Business China collaborated with Nanyang Business School for the first time, to kickstart this unique short term business management course tailored especially for senior managements.This year, we have come together once again to jointly present to a cohort of senior executives in-charge of China affairs from local enterprises, MNCs, government agencies and statutory boards, a content-rich and multi-faceted experiential learning journey.
3. The FC-ALP is unique in that it not only has business strategic elements, there are also social, political and cultural contents, enabling participants to have an all-rounded, intimate understanding of contemporary China. With this carefully crafted programme, participants would be able to embark on the fast track to deciphering the intricate business ethics in China, all within 3 months comprising of a week of contact time in each month. At the same time, they would be able to meet and network with fellow participants, lecturers and their local China hosts.
4. With the recent conclusion of the ‘Two Meetings’, China is currently experiencing major reforms. This Programme is indeed timely and I trust that participants will be able to have their doubts cleared and be better informed about the ever-changing China.
5. During the first leg, Business China Board Directors as well as top academia and China affair experts from both Singapore and China, will personally share their practical experiences and valuable insights with the participants, enabling them to re-look at China from different perspectives.
6. In the second leg, we are honoured to have Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development, and Business China Board Director, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, lead the delegation to Shaanxi Province and embark on a “Long March” to Yan’an, the birth place of the Communist Party of China, as well as Xi’an, which is Shaanxi’s provincial capital. The Programme will conclude with the third segment back in Singapore, where participants can integrate their newly-acquired knowledge and be well prepared for their future stint in China.
7. This year, the cohort comprises of key personnel from an array of multi-national corporations and sectors. I believe this will spark interesting interaction and exchange of insights between the participants, which in turn, would further enhance the depth and breadth of the programme.
8. With Business China’s extensive network and NTU’s strong presence in China, I believe the synergistic partnership will greatly benefit the participants.
9. With this, I would like to thank Business China Board of Advisers and Directors for their tremendous support, taking time off their busy schedules to personally interact and share their valuable experiences with the participants. I would also like to thank IE Singapore for their generous support, without which this programme would not have taken off.
10. Lastly, I hope all participants will give off their best for the course and wish everyone a fruitful journey to experience and discover China; and be enlightened!
11. Thank you.