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2026 CKGSB Economic Symposium

Event Overview

As the global economic order is reshaped by geopolitical realignment, supply chain diversification, and rapid technological innovation, China’s role in emerging trade and investment flows is entering a new phase. Deepening economic ties with Southeast Asia and a recalibration of engagement with Europe are creating fresh opportunities—while also redefining the contours of global competition and cooperation.

Against this backdrop, the 2026 CKGSB Economic Symposium, hosted by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, will convene leading economists, business leaders, and policymakers to examine China’s economic outlook within an increasingly fragmented yet interconnected global economy.

This year’s symposium will feature keynote insights from CKGSB leadership, alongside two high-level dialogues exploring China’s economic engagement with Southeast Asia and Europe. Through discussions on regional cooperation, global trade, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the symposium aims to provide a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping China’s economic future and implications for global markets.

  • Date & Time 14:00 – 18:00, June 17, 2026
  • Location CKGSB New Beijing Campus, No 125 Guangqumennei Street, Dongcheng District
  • Format In-person
  • Language English and Chinese (with simultaneous interpretation)
  • Organizer Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
  • Supporting Organizations European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Swiss Chamber of Commerce in China, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce in China

Speakers

LI Haitao

Dean, Dean's Distinguished Chair Professor of Finance, and Director of Research Department on Family Business and Wealth Management, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

PhD, Yale University

H.E. Djauhari Oratmangun

Ambassador, Embassy of Indonesia in China

LI Wei

Professor of Economics, Associate Dean for Asia and Oceania, Director of Case Research Department and Director of Big Data Economic Research Department, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

PhD, University of Michigan

Le Yucheng

Former Deputy Head of National Radio and Television Administration, Former Chinese Ambassador to India and Kazakhstan

Qu Tian

Founder of ATM Capital, CKGSB CEO Program Alumnus

Unny Sankar

Minister (Economic Affairs), Embassy of Malaysia in China

Xu Longhua

Founder and CEO of WOOK, CKGSB EMBA EE DBA Program Alumnus

H.E. Mikko Kinnunen

Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in China

Martin Matter

Counsellor and Head of Economic, Finance and Trade Section, Embassy of Switzerland; Board of the Swiss Chamber in China

TAO Zhigang

Professor of Strategy and Economics and Associate Dean for Europe, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

PhD, Princeton University

Jens Hildebrandt

Vice President, Government Relations Greater China, BASF

LI Ye

Corporate Affairs Vice President, Merck China

Zhang Hong

Vice President of Shell China, Vice Chair of BritCham
* Speakers are listed in the order of appearance.

Event Agenda

  • 13:30 – 14:00
    Guest Registration & Networking
  • 14:00 – 14:05
    Emcee’s Introduction
  • 14:05 – 14:30
    Opening Keynote
    Li Haitao
    Opening Keynote

    SPEAKERS

    • LI Haitao - Dean, Dean's Distinguished Chair Professor of Finance, and Director of Research Department on Family Business and Wealth Management, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, Yale University
  • Session 1

    China-ASEAN Economic Ties in a Rewired Global Economy

    China-ASEAN Economic Ties in a Rewired Global Economy

    SPEAKERS

    • LI Wei - Professor of Economics, Associate Dean for Asia and Oceania, Director of Case Research Department and Director of Big Data Economic Research Department, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, University of Michigan
  • 14:35 – 14:45
    Keynote Speech
    H.E. Djauhari Oratmangun
    Keynote Speech

    SPEAKERS

    • H.E. Djauhari Oratmangun - Ambassador, Embassy of Indonesia in China
  • 14:50 – 15:05
    Keynote Speech
    Li Wei
    Keynote Speech

    SPEAKERS

    • LI Wei - Professor of Economics, Associate Dean for Asia and Oceania, Director of Case Research Department and Director of Big Data Economic Research Department, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, University of Michigan
  • 15:05 – 15:15
    Report Launch
  • 15:20 – 16:05
    Panel Discussion
    Le Yucheng, Qu Tian, Unny Sankar, Xu Longhua
    Moderator: Li Wei
    Panel Discussion

    SPEAKERS

    • Le Yucheng - Former Deputy Head of National Radio and Television Administration, Former Chinese Ambassador to India and Kazakhstan
    • Qu Tian - Founder of ATM Capital, CKGSB CEO Program Alumnus
    • Unny Sankar - Minister (Economic Affairs), Embassy of Malaysia in China
    • Xu Longhua - Founder and CEO of WOOK, CKGSB EMBA EE DBA Program Alumnus

    Moderated by

    • LI Wei - Professor of Economics, Associate Dean for Asia and Oceania, Director of Case Research Department and Director of Big Data Economic Research Department, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, University of Michigan
  • 16:05 – 16:20
    Tea Break
  • Session 2

    China-Europe: Risks, Resilience and Opportunity

  • 16:20 – 16:55
    In Dialogue with Diplomats
    H.E. Mikko Kinnunen, Martin Matter
    Moderator: Tao Zhigang
    In Dialogue with Diplomats

    SPEAKERS

    • H.E. Mikko Kinnunen - Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in China
    • Martin Matter - Counsellor and Head of Economic, Finance and Trade Section, Embassy of Switzerland; Board of the Swiss Chamber in China

    Moderated by

    • TAO Zhigang - Professor of Strategy and Economics and Associate Dean for Europe, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, Princeton University
  • 17:00 – 17:50
    Panel Discussion
    Jens Hildebrandt, LI Ye, Zhang Hong
    Moderator: Tao Zhigang
    Panel Discussion

    SPEAKERS

    • Jens Hildebrandt - Vice President, Government Relations Greater China, BASF
    • LI Ye - Corporate Affairs Vice President, Merck China
    • Zhang Hong - Vice President of Shell China, Vice Chair of BritCham

    Moderated by

    • TAO Zhigang - Professor of Strategy and Economics and Associate Dean for Europe, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

      PhD, Princeton University
  • 17:55 – 18:00
    Closing
  • Networking
* Above speakers are subject to change.

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