Event Details

The delicate balance of power between the United States and China is undergoing a profound shift. US policy towards China has evolved from a belief that China could be integrated into a US-centric global order, to a much more cautious, and largely bipartisan consensus concerned with safeguarding America's global leadership. As the two superpowers navigate this complex rivalry, boardrooms across the world are paying close attention, as the stakes for global businesses—particularly those engaged with both economies—are incredibly high. The uncertainty surrounding this power dynamic poses both challenges and opportunities for multinational corporations, with far-reaching implications that remain hugely difficult to predict.


As the dust settles on the 2024 US Presidential Election, the world stands poised to understand its implications on global politics and the ever-evolving US-China relationship. This pivotal moment in history calls for an in-depth discussion on how the election results will shape international relations, economic policies, and geopolitical strategies, and how it will affect multinational corporations, especially those operating in China. In this event, geopolitical, business, economic, and legal experts will join us to unravel the implications and impacts of the rivalry between the US and China for multinational corporations in the short to medium term, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the future of international relations in the wake of the US election.

Please note that this event is limited to senior-level executives and per invitation only. If you are not an existing member of The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, but would like to learn how you can attend our events, please contact us.

Agenda

08:00 - 08:40
Registration, networking and breakfast
08:40 - 09:50
Keynote speaking & discussion
09:50 - 10:10
Q&A/Event conclude
10:10 - 10:30
Morning tea

Speakers

  • Dr Wei Da (Director of CISS, Professor at Tsinghua University)

    Dr Wei Da

    Director of CISS, Professor at Tsinghua University

    Da Wei is director of the Center for International Strategy and Security (CISS) at Tsinghua,and professor of department of International Relations, school of Social Science, Tsinghua University.

    Dr Da ’s research expertise covers China-US relations and US security & foreign policy. Da Wei has worked in China’s academic and policy community for more than 2 decades. Prior to current positions, Dr Da Wei was the assistant president of University of International Relations (2017-2020), director of the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (2013-2017). He has written hundreds of policy papers to Chinese government, and published dozens of academic papers on journals in China, the US and other countries.

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  • William Zarit (Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group)

    William Zarit

    Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group

    Minister for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in Beijing (2009–2014)
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, International Operations for the US Commercial Service (2008–2009)
    Regional Director for East Asia/Pacific, US Commercial Service (2005–2008)
    Senior Commercial Officer, US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2001–2005)

    The Honorable William Zarit is Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group, where he advises western multinationals working in the Chinese commercial market. Currently Chairman Emeritus of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, he served as Board Chairman from 2017–2018.

    Until May 2014, Mr. Zarit was Minister for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in Beijing, overseeing the US Department of Commerce’s trade promotion and trade policy activities in its operations in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang. He retired with the rank of Career Minister.

    Prior to his posting to Beijing, Mr. Zarit was Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Operations, for the US Commercial Service, overseeing Commercial Sections in US Embassies and Consulates worldwide. He previously served as US Commercial Service’s Regional Director for East Asia/Pacific, Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Beijing, and Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan.

    Before joining the US Commercial Service, Mr. Zarit was Economic and Commercial Program Officer for the New York-based National Committee on US-China Relations. Prior to that, he served as Marketing Manager/China for the California-based telecommunications firm Pacific Telesis International, preceded by his work as Project Manager for the high-tech marketing firm China Business Associates. Both positions were based in Beijing. Mr. Zarit also served as Mandarin Chinese Interpreter for the US State Department Language Services.

    He earned an MBA with Honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA with Honors in Political Science from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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  • Dr Robert Xiao (Director, Beijing of The Economist Intelligence Corporate  Network)

    Dr Robert Xiao

    Director, Beijing of The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network

    Robert Xiao is the Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network (EICN) in Beijing. He is responsible for engaging in high-level dialogues with business and political leaders, providing insights on global macroeconomic trends and policy directions for Fortune 500 decision-makers to support their macro layout and business development in domestic and international markets.

    Prior to joining EICN, Mr Xiao held positions as a lecturer, senior lecturer, PhD supervisor, and Deputy Director of the Impact Finance Hub at Monash University and Deakin Business School in Australia. His research mainly focused on the fields of corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, and economic and financial policy analysis related to the Chinese and US markets. He has authored multiple publications in Financial Times Top 50 Journals and been awarded major research grants jointly by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and Chinese Academy of Social Science.

    An educator at heart, Mr Xiao has always maintained a passion for tertiary teaching. He has more than a decade of experience teaching business courses, including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Finance, and Bachelor of Commerce programmes at leading universities.

    Mr Xiao obtained his Ph.D. in Finance from Monash University and graduated with honours (B.Com. Hons) from Monash Business School in 2008 as the highest-achieving student in his cohort. He has won multiple awards from Australian universities, including the Australian Postgraduate Awards granted by the Australian Federal Government.

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Venue

Hotel Eclat Beijing

Speaker's Corner, 10F
Parkview Green, Tower D
No. 9, DongDaQiao Road, Chaoyang Dist.,
朝阳区东大桥路9号,怡亨酒店,侨福芳草地,10层D座, 侨福讲堂
T: (86)10 8561 2888

Beijing, China

If you have any questions please contact The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network

Contact Organizer

+86 18611217869

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