The 2026 China-Europe Business Development Forum & Antai European International Alumni Forum was held on April 10, in Paris, France. Hosted by Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and co-hosted by ESSEC Alumni and the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies (CEEMAN), the forum themed "Forging Synergies, Shaping the Future" brought together nearly 120 distinguished guests, including representatives from the Chinese Embassy in France, renowned entrepreneurs, academic experts, and ACEM international alumni.

The forum began with opening remarks from AN Yan, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in France. She extended her warm congratulations on the 130th anniversary of SJTU. She emphasized that education is the cornerstone of China-Europe cooperation, with students and alumni serving as the vital link between the two continents. She praised the alumni as practitioners and messengers of bilateral trade and cultural exchange.

Professor CHEN Fangruo, Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management, SJTU, reflected on the university's 130-year history and shared the congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping. He noted that business schools should act as "two bridges": one connecting management with technology, and the other fostering international collaboration. He highlighted ACEM's innovations, such as the Master of Technology Transfer (MTT) program, and announced the launch of the Antai Global Alumni European Chapter in Paris.

Danica PURG, President of CEEMAN, shared her 50-year journey with China and and highlighted the forum’s impressive capacity to drive global multi-party synergy. 

Marie-Pierre SCHICKEL, Managing Director of ESSEC Alumni, emphasized the extensive Chinese alumni network of ESSEC and the shared vision of "life-long learning" with ACEM.

SANG Dawei, Associate Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management, moderated the forum.

WEN Yi, Professor of Economics at ACEM, SJTU, delivered a keynote speech titled " China’s Economic Trends and Market Opportunities." He noted that after achieving 5% growth in 2025, China's economy continued its steady performance with a 5.4% growth in Q1 2026. He argued that successful industrialization requires the state to act as a market creator to provide political stability and infrastructure. He concluded that in the era of Re-orienting back to the East, Chinese values of harmony and peace offer a universal reference for the harmonious coexistence of human civilization.

The first panel, themed “In-depth Collaboration of China-Europe Industrial Chains: Technological Transfer and Supply Chain Integration”, was moderated by CHEN Fangruo. Panelists included Goran PITIĆ (Former Minister for Economic Relations of Serbia), Vincent CARRÉ (Deputy Head of Automotive & Mobility Group, Crédit Agricole), and Jean-Baptiste ZALMANSKI (General Manager of CATL France). They explored the technical complementarity between China and Europe, with Zalmanski detailing CATL’s Local for Local strategy. The panel reached a consensus that mutual trust and shared industrial standards are fundamental to supply chain resilience.

In the afternoon session, Denis MORISSET, Professor of Luxury Marketing at ESSEC Business School, delivered a keynote on "How Strong Brands can Boost Demand and Stimulate Consumption." He emphasized the shift from "technical innovation" to "cultural innovation," noting that brands must utilize artistic storytelling to engage the increasingly sophisticated and diverse Chinese consumers. He called for enhanced cultural exchange between French and Chinese brands to ensure lasting brand vitality.

The second panel, themed "Consumption Upgrade and Brand Interconnection: New Growth Engines for China-Europe Two-Way Markets," was moderated by Žiga VAVPOTIČ (President of the Strategic Council for Internationalization at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia). Panelists Linda HO CAPPELLE (LVMH Group), Hugues de REVEL (France China Foundation), WANG Song (Bank of China Paris Branch), and ZHANG Hui (NIO Europe) discussed service upgrades driven by tourism and the challenges of building brand trust through ESG standards and interpersonal communication.

During the forum, LI Hourui, Associate Dean of ACEM, presented the Antai Global Alumni European Ambassador certificate to Laura CURÉ, a 2017 MIB alumna and Head of Global Data Marketing at JCDecaux France. This appointment aims to leverage the bridging role of outstanding alumni to further strengthen the interaction between young talents from China and Europe, while promoting deep collaboration across academic, industrial, and innovation sectors within the Antai European international alumni network.

Additionally, SANG Dawei, Associate Dean of ACEM, presented the Strategic Partner plaques to the SJTU Antai Alumni Association and the ESSEC China Alumni Association, marking a significant step in cross-school alumni resource sharing and collaboration.

This European forum marks the second stop in the SJTU Antai Overseas International Alumni Forum series, expanding the network following the inaugural event in Thailand. Through its "Connection-Support-Empowerment" system, Antai remains committed to fostering global collaboration and interaction within the alumni community. With a database of over 2,000 international alumni, the college plans to further extend its global service network to North America, South Korea, and beyond.