MOS Sam Tan encouraged students to lead in the inter-connectedness with China and the world
SINGAPORE, 27 October 2014 – Some 200 students across various Junior Colleges, IP Schools, Polytechnics and Universities participated in the China-Quotient Youth Forum 2014 held this afternoon at Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, School of Accountancy, Singapore Management University. This forward looking Forum, themed “China: Connectivity for Future Growth”, conducted in both English and Mandarin, aimed to reiterate the importance for Singaporean youths to exercise their bilingualism and biculturalism advantage, in light of the global economic shift to the East.
China-Quotient Youth Forum 2014 was jointly organised by Business China, Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Accountancy and SMU Emerging Markets. Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Sam Tan, graced the Forum as the Guest-of-Honour and Keynote Speaker; and Mr Chris Loo, Business Development Manager (China Markets) of Horizon Impex Pte Ltd, Singapore, was the Guest Speaker.
Minister of State Sam Tan in his keynote speech emphasised on the significance of staying connected with the soon-to-be world’s largest economy, China. He said, “China is and will be a vital player in this region for many years to come. In fact, the biggest change for Asia in the next two decades will be the growth of China’s power and influence.”
Having lived and worked in China for more than 5 years, Mr Chris Loo candidly shared his first-hand experiences of discovering China and learning to connect with her systems and society, taking references from the Three Kingdoms and China’s tea culture. He mentioned that it is imperative to remain humble, keep an open mind and think strategically so as to succeed in China in the long run.
Professor Pang Yang Hoong, Vice Provost (Undergraduate) & Dean, School of Accountancy, Singapore Management University, in her welcome remarks, spoke of the importance to move beyond competence towards mastery of skills and know-how and apply them to the context of different situations. She said, “We continuously craft out relevant courses to nurture contextual intelligence in accounting and governance so that students can develop critical thinking to notice and understand better the market opportunities as well as the pitfalls in governance and risks when doing business in China and Asia.”
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Woon Yik Huen
Associate
Business China
Tel: 6213 0409
Email: yikhuen@businesschina.org.sg
About China-Quotient Youth Forum
As part of the efforts to engage youths, Business China has been striving towards promoting bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore to better prepare Singaporean youths for global development in the future. China had become the world’s largest economy in Sept 2014. It is hence imperative that our youths have the means to effectively engage with China now and in years to come.
Launched in 2010, the China-Quotient (CQ) Forum Series aims to upkeep the bilingual and bicultural quotient of Singaporean youths. Through panel discussions, outstanding speakers from areas such as technology, lifestyle, popular culture, volunteerism and social entrepreneurship will share how Singaporean youths can leverage on their unique edge as bilingual and bicultural individuals in an increasingly competitive global market place.
About Business China
Business China was launched in November 2007 by our Founding Patron, Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Former Chinese Premier Mr 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 multicultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.
About Singapore Management University, School of Accountancy
Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Accountancy (SOA) aims to develop future global citizens who are competent accounting professionals and responsible business leaders, through pertinent knowledge creation; holistic education programmes; and collaborative engagements with the business community. Our programmes are accredited by various reputable professional bodies and are internationally recognised. The SOA community shares a sense of professionalism, personal integrity, social responsibility, as well as an aspiration for exemplary leadership in the field of accounting.
For more information, visit accountancy.smu.edu.sg.
About SMU Emerging Markets
Founded in 2012, SMU Emerging Markets (SEM) is a student initiative that aims to be a global and interactive business collaboration centre for research on emerging markets. Through our research, events and study missions, we create a thriving environment and platform for students to cultivate knowledge beyond that gained through textbooks. With 7 different desks for each emerging markets region, SEM covers all the key global emerging economies to cater to the distinct student’s research interest.
For more information, visit smuem.com.