The Swiss stars Foundation in April organized a study trip to Chengdu in China. Here are some impression gained during the five-day trip, for which finews.asia was a media partner.
China's economic expansion has been slowing down markedly in recent quarters and the worry is that there will be a hard landing. Li Keqiang, the country's prime minister, in March presented the new five-year plan valid until 2020 at the 12th National People's Congress.
China's government has big plans for the economy and targets growth rates of 6.5 to 7 percent. It wants to achieve a changeover of the country's economy, away from a production-driven to innovation-driven business world.
Li Keqiang expects the big conurbations to boost growth. Chengdu in southwest China is one of the places that needs to transmit the pace of economic growth on to the economically weaker west of the country.
Future Business Leaders
The stars Foundation of Switzerland organized a study trip and a symposium in Chengdu, which took place from the 10th through the 15th of April 2016. Some 60 guests and speakers attended the events. The foundation's aim was to identify tomorrow's business leaders and to give them a platform to communicate, exchange views and to network with each other.
China and the Decisive Years
Stars Foundation has close links with numerous big companies, which sent their brightest young leaders to Chengdu. The group was complemented by representatives of the science community, the media (finews.asia), government administration and NGOs.
The events carried the title «China and the World – The Decisive Years» and speakers included Michael Barbalas, member of the board of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Ulrich Birch, until recently chairman of the board of the European Chamber of Commerce in China for Southwest China, Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, Lim Sion Guang, president of GIC Singapore, Uli Sigg, arts collectors and former Swiss ambassador to China, Huang Jing, professor and director at the Centre on Asia and Globalization at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
