Introduction

The China Development Institute and Z/Yen Group held a major conference in London on 1 May 2019, followed by a speakers' dinner.

The conference programme and the presentations made at the conference can be downloaded in the resources section to the left, along with two of the talks given by speakers. A summary of the issues raised is available in Professor Michael Mainelli's article on the conference.

Objectives

The conference, “Belt, Road & Bridge: Creating New China-Europe Connections” was designed to:

• Explore current developments in finance and trade of interest to both China and Europe
• Identify opportunities for increased economic co-operation between businesses and municipal governments in China and Europe
• Provide opportunities for connecting senior finance and trade professionals from China and Europe.

Speakers were drawn from both China and Europe to provide a focus on the points of common interest and divergence facing us in 2019.

Who Was The Conference For?

The conference was attended by senior executives working in finance and trade with a wish to:

• Deepen their understanding of how China and Europe will continue to strengthen their economic and trade relationships
• Build and strengthen relationships with overseas colleagues.

Programme

1 May 2019

08:30 Registration

09:00 Welcome Address: Rt Hon Mark Field MP, Minister Of State For Asia And The Pacific At The Foreign & Commonwealth Office

• Objectives for the day
• Co-operation between London and China.

09:30 Session 1: The New Silk Road – Economic Prospects For Trade Between China And Europe

Chair:

Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Executive Chairman, Z/Yen Group

Speakers:

Professor Fan Gang, President, China Development Institute

Professor Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London

Panellists:

Dr Rebecca Harding, CEO, Coriolis Technologies

Focus

• Current trends and initiatives
• Opportunities and threats relating to joint trade
• Growing and deepening co-operation in finance and trade

10:15 Panel discussion 1

10:45 Refreshments And Networking

11:15 Session 2: Growing The Digital Economy: The Fourth Industrial Revolution And FinTech

Chair:

Professor D’Maris Coffman, Professor of Economics and Finance of the Built Environment & Director, Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, UCL

Speakers:

Professor Dr Alexander Van de Putte, Chairman, AIFC Academic Council & Chief Strategy Officer, AIFC Governor's Council

Xu Jianguo, Senior Research Fellow of Digital Finance, Associate Professor of National School of Development, Peking University

Panellists:

Henry Tillman, Founder and Chairman, Grisons Peak, Founder and Editor China Outbound Investments

Alderman Gregory Jones, City Of London

Focus

• Current trends and initiatives
• The impact of smart technology on finance
• Regulation and policy

12:00 Panel discussion 2

12:30 Lunch and Networking

13:30 Measuring Financial Centre Success: Mike Wardle, Head Of Indices, Z/Yen Group

13:45 Session 3: Sustainable Futures: Mainstreaming Green Finance

Chair:

Simon Mills, Consultant, Z/Yen Group

Speakers:

Wang Yao, Director General, International Institute of Green Finance, CUFE

Simon Zadek, Principal, Project Catalyst, United Nations Development Programme

Professor Michael Mainelli, Executive Chairman, Z/Yen Group

Panellists:

Rongrong Huo, Executive Director, Investment Institute, Investec Asset Management

Alderman Prem Goyal, City Of London

Focus

• Opportunities for mainstreaming green finance
• Drivers and policy instruments
• Innovation in green finance

14:30 Panel Discussion 3

15:00 Refreshments And Networking
15:30 Session 4: Light On Our Feet: Removing Regulatory Barriers

Chair:

Mark Yeandle, Director, Z/Yen Partners

Speakers:

John Adams, Director, HR China, Financial Training and Recruitment

Dong Yan, Director of Trade Department, Institute of World Economics & Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Science

Panellists:

Sir Mark Boleat, former Chairman of Policy & Resources, City of London Corporation

Alderman Emma Edhem, City Of London

Focus

• Current developments in the regulation of finance and trade
• Challenges and solutions
• Balancing risk and reward

16:15 Panel Discussion 4

16:45 Closing Remarks

17:00 Close