本文原以英语发布，此处为原文。
Seeing is believing! This old saying was once again confirmed by the truly unforgettable experience of our top Belgian CEO delegation’s trip to China led by EU Economist Prof. Rudy Aernoudt. It was encouraging to see that all our participants agreed – China is vastly different from the way it is portrayed in the media.
Now more than ever, China remains open to the West. As the world’s second-largest economy, it continues to offer enormous business opportunities for Western countries. Although China is currently facing its first official economic downturn in 40 years, the Chinese people remain optimistic about the future. “Give us 2-3 years,” they say, “and we will recover, reclaiming our place at the world economic top as centuries ago.
Over the past few days, we explored world-class cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou and engaged in high-level company visits to renowned industry leaders such as Alibaba Group, GEELY, and Dahua Technology Co. LTD. Each visit offered our delegation the unique opportunity to have in-depth dialogues with senior management, gaining invaluable insights into their global operations.
We also had the privilege to connect with key organizations such as the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, DaWo Law Firm Shanghai, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Benelux Chamber of Commerce East China | Shanghai, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), the Zhejiang Government and leading Belgian companies like KBC Bank & Verzekering, Bekaert, and Ahlers Logistics, all of which are actively engaged in the Chinese market. These connections provided valuable insights into operating and thriving in this dynamic environment.
To conclude our first 4 days, we also had the pleasure of attending the prestigious Global Digital Trade Expo and participating in impactful panel discussions organized by the UNIDO ITPO Beijing office, with contributions from Prof. Rudy Aernoudt, Gwenn Sonck (宋惠安), and some of our participating companies.
Looking forward to our next 4 days in Chengdu and Beijing, filled with new opportunities, inspiring meetings, and valuable exchanges!
Instead of criticizing or hesitating, why not embrace the opportunity, join the ride, and take the chance to make your company great?
