CCG holds webinar to discuss the role of Chinese and American enterprises in the pandemic
CCG Secretary-General Mabel Miao emphasized the importance of Chinese and American enterprises under the strained China-US relationship. She said that in the collective fight against COVID-19, it is crucial to further coordinate among the enterprises and to utilize them as a platform of innovation.
Ker Gibbs, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said that a crisis for humankind is an ideal opportunity to strengthen cooperation. He expressed disappointment that the pandemic, a common enemy of all human beings, had led to more divergence between China and the US. However, he said that on the optimistic side, the business communities of both countries had stood up and worked with each other. He also said that the cooperation between the provincial level and municipal level to shut down and reopen companies has been remarkable.
CCG President Wang Huiyao said that the global cause of the pandemic needs the endeavors of both China and the US. Although China-US relations are undergoing some challenges, the two countries should realize their enormous mutual interests.
Mario Cavolo, CCG senior fellow, said that the business community should provide people with certainty and security by identifying the critical practices that make for a manageable situation. He said that for both China and the US, self-disciplined people and responsive governments are working to create more stability and security.
Lu Jianzhong, president of Weir Group China, suggested that Chinese companies need to rethink how to increase their awareness overseas and to pay attention to strengthening compliance and capacity building, including crisis management, responding to complexity, and striving for sustainable development.
Furthermore, he said that the Belt and Road Initiative and digitalization have good prospects for output and cooperation.
Michael Kuan, CCG Council vice chairs, founder and chairman of Kuan Capital said that China-US trades need to tap more opportunities from the demand chain, not just focus on stocks. Furthermore, he said that the Belt and Road Initiative and digitalization have good prospects for output and cooperation.
Alex Zhang, partner of White & Case LLP, said that in the current situation, the business community must do a comprehensive review of business plans, company development directions, and existing investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) arrangements.
Zheng Shuohuai, global partner in Bain & Company, said that the uncertainty which pervades the world today is the result of accumulated uncertainty in the past decades. He said that post-globalization uncertainty, automation-driven changes in the world landscape, and post-urbanization will be key themes after 2020. He suggested that companies should go back to consumers and rethink their resources in the context of a big restructuring.
Ding Feng, CCG Executive Council member, founder and CEO of WeBranding Global, said that the pandemic has raised concerns about employment and other issues that may accelerate changes in the supply chain. This may bring good opportunities for Chinese companies to explore global industrial layout and internal industrial upgrading.
