Lord Green,
Madame Chau Hoi Shuen,
Professor Xiang Bing,
Professor Sun Baohong,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

 It's my great pleasure to join this ceremony to mark the launch of the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Europe.

 This launch is an important landmark event. Cheung Kong is the first leading business school from China that has established itself in the European management education sector.

What we witness today is a new milestone in commercial and educational cooperation between China and Europe.

 Let me offer my warm congratulations to Cheung Kong.

 For this initiative, deep gratitude is due to the Li Ka Shing Foundation for its funding support. As you know, the Foundation was established by Hong Kong's prominent and eminent entrepreneur Mr. Li Ka-shing.

 Over the past decade Cheung Kong has established itself as one of China's top business schools.

Cheung Kong has produced thousands of business leaders. Its graduates are now spread across China's large state-owned enterprises, private firms and well-known multinationals.
 

 I like the Cheung Kong motto. It makes a very striking message:

 "Discern the trend, master the way and innovate the skills".

To my mind, those words provide a vivid expression to mark the launch of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Europe.

Let me explain why.

First, "Discern the trend".

The trends of Europe and China are at different stages of evolution.

The European Union is the world's largest developed economy.

China is the largest developing country and emerging economy.

These different stages of development offer strong economic potential.

As China moves towards greater development, there is much to gain from ever closer Chinese and European commercial and economic co-operation.

The European Union is already China's number one trading partner and technology supplier.

Despite uncertainties in the world financial systems, China's economy continues to grow strongly. We have reasons to believe the long-run growth trend in China remains upwards.

Currently, Europe is in debt crisis. However, that crisis should not distract from the fundamental strengths of Europe.

China's commercial cooperation and trade with Europe is robust. There was a 21.1 percent year-on-year growth in the first seven months this year. This gives us reasons to be confident that Europe will come out of the debt crisis and return to growth.

This is the background around Cheung Kong's choice to base its European business management education in Britain. I believe that this will prove to be a prudent forward-looking step. It will be a "trend" that enables bridges and links to be built across Europe.

 

Second, "master the way".

China has an age-old saying:

"A gentlemen makes money in a right way". Such a right "way", in today's context, must be mutual benefit.

In a globalised world, Chinese and European markets should be open to each other. Protectionism and market monopoly are not viable options.
 

Only healthy competition can set higher bars for Chinese and European businesses. Only cooperation can generate a win-win scenario for both of us.

In both China and Europe, governments, corporations and society need to pay greater attention to corporate social responsibility. Companies should give back to local communities. In turn society and the public should accommodate and support enterprises.

Cheung Kong has a wealth of experience built up over years. I trust that it will turn this heritage into a widely-accepted 'way' of doing business. In this way its teaching and influence can create a powerful legacy among Chinese and European business leaders.

Third, "innovate the skills".

China and Europe have different cultural background and market environments.

However there is great economic gain to be won from learning from different cultures and civilisations.

As China has learned from Europe, then European business has much to gain from close study of how to operate successfully in China. I am aware that this is precisely what many of European and Chinese companies are doing right now.

It's my hope that Cheung Kong will lead this effort and help dispel doubts and misperceptions among Chinese and European entrepreneurs.

Cheung Kong in this process has every potential to become a thought leader in China-Europe business cooperation.

In closing, I expect to see Cheung Kong hugely prosper in Europe.

I wish all those who benefit from Cheung Kong's management courses every success in their career.

I hope that Cheung Kong will be the inspiration for ever greater contributions to China's commercial cooperation with Britain and Europe.

Thank you!

 

 

尊敬的贸易和投资国务大臣格林勋爵，
尊敬的李嘉诚基金会董事周凯旋女士，
尊敬的彭定康勋爵，
尊敬的长江商学院项兵院长、孙宝红副院长，
女士们、先生们：

 

　　很高兴出席长江商学院欧洲业务启动仪式。这是首家中国顶尖商学院进入欧洲管理教育市场，也是中欧经贸和教育领域的一大新成果。我对此表示热烈祝贺。

 

　　长江商学院由香港著名企业家李嘉诚先生所创基金会捐资设立。经过近十年发展已成为中国顶尖商学院之一，培养了数千名商业精英，校友遍及中国大型国有、民营企业及国际知名跨国公司。

 

　　我本人很欣赏长江商学院“取势、明道、优术”的办校理念。我认为长江商学院此时在英国启动欧洲业务正是这六字理念的执着秉承和充分贯彻：

 

　　一是“取势”。欧盟是世界上最大的发达经济体，中国是世界上最大的发展中国家和新兴经济体，中欧经济互补性强，经贸合作基础好、机遇大、前景广。欧盟目前是中国第一大贸易伙伴、第一大技术引进来源地。尽管当前世界经济复苏形势仍很不稳定，但中国经济发展始终动力十足、前景看好，我们对欧洲走出债务危机、实现经济增长也抱有信心。特别是，中欧经贸合作保持旺盛势头，今年1-7月中欧贸易额增长21.1%。长江商学院现在来到英国，面向欧洲，开展高水平的工商管理教育，无疑是把握大势、占据先机之举。

 

　　二是“明道”。中国古人说：“君子爱财，取之有道。”这种“道”，在今天看来就是：互利共赢。在全球化的格局下，中欧双方的市场应当是彼此开放的，搞保护、靠垄断没有出路，中欧双方企业应当在竞争中达到“水涨船高”，在合作中实现利益分享。另一方面，企业与社会同样需要互利共赢，即企业履行社会责任，造福当地社会；当地社会积极容纳、支持企业发展。我相信，长江商学院凭借其多年的积淀，在未来教学中一定能将这一现代“商道”在中欧企业家中发扬光大。

 

　　三是“优术”。中欧文化背景不同，市场环境也有差别，如果不顾对方国情，机械照搬，则难免“橘生淮北则为枳”，出现水土不服。中欧企业要开拓对方市场，很重要的一点就是要“欧为中用”和“中为欧用”，实现“中欧结合”。我希望长江商学院为此做出积极努力，为中欧企业家解惑释疑，使双方受教受益，从而成为中欧经贸合作的“思想库”。

 

　　最后，我祝愿长江商学院在欧洲办学成功，也衷心希望长江商学院的学员们学有所成，并为促进中欧、中英经贸合作做出更大的贡献。

 

　　谢谢！