“Our achievements are enormous, but we still have huge challenges ahead. As representatives of China’s business elite, how should we behave going forward?” This question is at the heart of a “new business civilization” advocated by CKGSB Founding Dean Xiang Bing. Declaring that “our responsibilities and talents, including our energy, progress, stability, strength, wisdom and sense of harmony, are increasingly important to business and societal developments,” Dean Xiang, Professor of China Business and Globalization, expressed his hopes for CKGSB alumni and students at the 2015 Fall Graduation and Opening ceremony.
“Our achievements are enormous, but we still have huge challenges ahead. As representatives of China’s business elite, how should we behave going forward?” This question is at the heart of a “new business civilization” advocated by CKGSB Founding Dean Xiang Bing. Declaring that “our responsibilities and talents, including our energy, progress, stability, strength, wisdom and sense of harmony, are increasingly important to business and societal developments,” Dean Xiang, Professor of China Business and Globalization, expressed his hopes for CKGSB alumni and students at the 2015 Fall Graduation and Opening ceremony.
CKGSB’s Fall Graduation and Opening Ceremony
Dean Xiang Bing delivered the opening speech at the ceremony. Former Chinese Ambassador to the US, Secretary General of the Bo’ao Summit, CPPC National Committee member, and China-US People’s Friendship Association Vice Chairman Zhou Wenzhong gave the keynote speech. To a hall of nearly one thousand students and alumni, Zhou spoke on current and future Sino-US relations. Professor Teng Bingsheng, CKGSB Associate Professor of Strategy and Associate Dean for Europe, presided over the graduation ceremony. CKGSB Accounting Professor and Associate Dean Liu Jing, Operations Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Lode Li, Accounting Professor and Associate Dean of EMBA Mei Jianping, and Distinguished Chair of Finance and Associate Dean of MBA Li Haitao, were among faculty members in attendance.
CKGSB Associate Dean for Europe Professor Teng Bingsheng
Xiang Bing – What the New Business Civilization Represents
CKGSB’s achievements today stem from Dean Xiang’s vision for the school when it was founded 13 years ago. At the ceremony, Founding Dean of CKGSB Prof. Xiang Bing spoke to the almost 500 graduates and 400 new students about “advocacy, leadership and practice of a new business civilization.”
Xiang Bing, CKGSB Founding Dean and Professor of China Business and Globalization
“Reform has brought about significant achievements but also generated new challenges. What should CKGSB graduates, as China’s business elite, do to tackle such challenges?”, asked Dean Xiang. Changing business models are a critical part of the new business civilization that he advocated in his speech. He asked, “How can China move beyond being a manufacturing giant to become an innovation giant? What are the steps needed to move from imitation to real innovation? How can we shift from price to value competition? How can we achieve breakthroughs in mainstream sectors? How can we create companies able to integrate global resources, stepping beyond the family business model to become great commercial enterprises?” He expressed his hope that, “With transitions of these kinds, we can foster a middle class that represents Chinese society, fulfilling our dreams for a new business civilization.”
Dean Xiang goes on to say that another core part of the new business civilization is adjusting one’s own values and mentality. He stressed that “comparatively speaking, Chinese entrepreneurs lack focus, are more impulsive, and are impatient to succeed, with little regard for being thankful for what we have. Although we keep talking about governance, democracy and the legal system, it is just as important to consider attitude – Chinese entrepreneurs should stop blindly seeking privilege, and focus more on promoting fairness and justice, encouraging diversity, and developing a sense of gratitude – this kind of adjustment in attitude is essential for society and harmony.”
Dean Xiang Bing pointed out that China’s entrepreneurs focus almost exclusively on domestic issues, while US entrepreneurs operate on a global scale. There is a need, he said, to “deal with global issues on a global scale,” the most important aspect of which will be value, rather than simply management style or process. He believes “China is the most populous country in the world, the highest carbon emitter and the country with the highest GDP, so it cannot escape taking on greater global responsibilities.”
Zhou Wenzhong – The Future of US-China Relations Rests on How the US Sees China
The Sino-US relationship is one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships. Former Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong addressed CKGSB students, recalling shifts in the first decades of Sino-US diplomacy from simple bilateral relations to the different positioning of the “new power” relationship. He shared his observations and thinking on the status of the relationship and future trajectories.
Former Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to the US, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum, CPPCC National Committee member, VP of the Sino-US Friendship Association Zhou Wenzhong
“Although the China and US have entered into a ‘new power’ relationship, US concerns about China remain: China’s presence on the world platform has grown along with its strength, and the question is whether or not China will compete for global dominance?” Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong said Chairman Xi Jinping’s US visit was a historic development. In Seattle, Chairman Xi delivered a message that no matter what level of development, the Chinese government will put sustainability first. Given limited capacity and resources, the government will prioritize improving people’s livelihood at the forefront of its quest to develop the economy. He also explained that in over 2,000 years, China has learned the profound truth of the expression, “though a country is now strong, bellicosity will lead to its ruin.”
“The two sides reached consensus and agreement in finance, trade, and anti-terrorism among 49 important areas”, and also discussed sensitive issues including internet security and the South China Sea issue. Zhou stressed: “The core of Sino-US relations is the way in which the US acknowledges China. The hope is that the two countries can make mutually beneficial choices, and that CKGSB alumni in the Chinese and US business communities can contribute to promoting Sino-US relations!”
Li Lode: The Importance of Thesis Research
Research-oriented CKGSB encourages students to integrate theory with practice and independent thinking. From hundreds of theses submitted every year, the most outstanding papers received awards at the graduation ceremony, in accordance with a strict selection procedure. Seven EMBA and FMBA graduates were thus honored during the ceremony.
“Thesis writing is genuine research,” said Li Lode, CKGSB Professor of Operations Management and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, when presenting the academic awards. “Unlike other schools, CKGSB pays special attention to encouraging research. We want CKGSB students to dare to pick smart questions, new questions and questions of value, and find workable solutions via investigation, focus, and strategy.”
Li Lode, CKGSB Professor of Operations Management and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Award-winning students with Professors Li Lode, Li Xiaoyang, Zhang Xiaoming
The New EMBA Healthcare Management – a Joint Program with Ross School of Business
The CKGSB EMBA was the first degree program established by the school. After more than ten years, it has become the premier business degree in China and Asia. This year, CKGSB announced a new track to its EMBA program that will specialize in healthcare, to be jointly conducted with University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Dean Xiang and Professor Mei Jianping—together with Ross School of Business representative Richard Rogel and student representatives, including CEO Tang Yue from Truking Technology, and Hemei Hospital Vice Chairman Su Jianqiang—officially launched the joint EMBA Healthcare Management Program at the ceremony.
Dean Xiang, Professor Mei Jianping, Ross School of Business Representative Richard Rogel and CKGSB Students Launch the New Joint EMBA in Healthcare Management
