Future China Business Forum 2012:
Riding The Dragon During Uncertain Times – Opportunities and Risks
For the first time ever, Business China had transient geographical restrictions to successfully present in Shanghai, China, the inaugural Future China Business Forum 2012, together with Shanghai-Singapore Business Association – Singapore Club Shanghai (SSBA-SCS). The Forum, themed Riding The Dragon During Uncertain Times – Opportunities and Risks was held to an enthusiastic turnout of more than 180 business leaders and professionals on 18 September, from 8.30am to 12.30pm at Millennium Hongqiao Hotel, Shanghai.
This inaugural Future China Business Forum 2012 was organised in conjunction with Business China’s 5th anniversary celebration, in a bid to harness and integrate cross boundary networks and partnerships forged over the years. With this forum, we looked forward to sharing the collective wisdom of our partners with the wider business community.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, had reinvigorated the enduring friendship and the special bilateral relations between the two countries. Concluding his six-day visit, PM Lee said as China is poise to move up the production value chain, Singapore companies have to reposition themselves to stay relevant to China’s development. However, the Chinese leadership transition process and economic reforms in the country had but added significant levels of uncertainties and risks. Where, when and how, can Singaporean companies find opportunities for future collaborations?
These were the key concerns addressed by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, and Business China’s Adviser, in his keynote speech at the Forum. Minister Lim also elaborated on Singapore-China bilateral relations, Singapore’s advantageous role and opportunities in China’s four key areas of growth, namely urbanisation, internationalisation, popularisation of the internet and ascension up the value chain.
“We hope to capture the new needs through the development of new capabilities, new products and provide better services. On the whole, China and Singapore are two very different countries. Although we are different, over the years, we have both achieved significantly. China is a “rare” (难得的) country, Singapore is also a “rare” (难得的) country. I believed that in future, we have many opportunities to help each other,” said Minister Lim Swee Say.
Minister Lim was joined by three other speakers, namely Mr Ji Qi, Founder & Chairman of China Lodging Group, Co-founder of Ctrip.com and Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., Mr Edward Yu, Chairman & CEO of Analysys International and Ms Rachel Eng, Managing Partner of WongPartnership LLP. Joining the speakers as a panellist at the Questions & Answers session was Mr Ding Wei, Head for China & Senior Managing Director of Temasek International Pte Ltd, PRC, to address the audience’s varying concerns.
At the mostly Singaporean forum, the delegates were interested to find out the speakers’ and economic expert’s views about the opportunities and challenges of the internet economy, challenges of further powering Singapore’s economy while balancing concerns of citizens, as well as work-life balance of working in a foreign land.
In closing the Forum, Ms Low Yen Ling, Business China’s CEO, commended the voluntary spirit of SSBA-SCS and their tireless commitment to make this event a resounding success.
For further enquiries, you may contact:
Oon Yee Hon (Ms)
Manager (Corporate Communications)
Business China
Tel: 6213 0412
Email: yeehon@businesschina.org.sg
About Business China
Business China was launched in November 2007 by our Patron, then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. We are a platform integrating language, economic and cultural elements. Our mission is to nurture an inclusive bilingual and bicultural group of Singaporeans through extensive use of the Chinese language as the medium of communication, so as to sustain our multi-cultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.
About Shanghai-Singapore Business Association – Singapore Club Shanghai
The Shanghai-Singapore Business Association – Singapore Club Shanghai (SSBA-SCS) was established through the merger between Singapore Club Shanghai, which was formed in 1988 and Shanghai Singapore Business Association, which was formed in 1997. The combined objective was to serve the Singaporean business community and their families in Shanghai. SSBA-SCS aims to enable Singaporeans to maintain contact with one another through social, business, sports and other activities. In addition, it is also a focal point for newly arrived Singaporeans in Shanghai and provides assistance when necessary.