Dr. Kai-Fu Lee headlines impressive speaker line-up as thought leaders and industry elite converge in Beijing
Beijing, September 20, 2018– The American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) today launched the 2018 Technology and Innovation Summit, the signature event under the Chamber’s Technology and Innovation Initiative. As one of the leading forums for companies to showcase cross-sector and cross-functional best practices and solutions for the latest digital technologies, the Summit featured several pioneers of cutting-edge digital technologies. Around 200 business leaders from both multinational and Chinese companies, non-profit organizations, and finance experts converged to share their knowledge on the latest applications and innovation trends in emerging technologies.
Technology and innovation (T&I) have made significant contributions to boosting China’s development, while also being a driving force for business. In response to members’ requests to foster technology development in the Chinese market, AmCham China earlier this year launched the Technology and Innovation Initiative as a knowledge and collaboration platform. The Initiative shares the best practices of American companies, deepens relationships between creators and adopters, and provides advocacy support for business development.
Commenting on the impressive group of speakers and attendees, AmCham China President Alan Beebe said, “There is power in networking, and power in sharing ideas – that’s what we’re trying to do with the Technology and Innovation Initiative. The US and China are facing many challenges, but we will overcome them by providing leadership and vision. We hope to do that today.”
“AmCham China’s Technology and Innovation Summit epitomizes a fundamental driver in the digital transformation of business collaboration,” noted Dr. Kai-Fu Lee of Sinovation Ventures, who delivered the opening keynote speech at the Summit. “In this era when artificial intelligence gathers pace and the tech revolution will change many businesses and industries, the US and China are becoming the AI superpowers of the future.”
In keeping with the spirit of collaboration, during the morning’s C-suite Dialogue, Microsoft’s Xu Mingqiang advised that “China’s digital transformation will bring many opportunities to multinational companies, and they should be looking to partner with Chinese companies.” Meanwhile, Celina Chew, President at Bayer Greater China, discussed the challenges of rapid technological change, saying “Getting people to understand the benefit of emerging technologies is the key – translating the epiphany and making it stick.”
Thanks to the great support of AmCham China’s Digital Circle members Microsoft, Intel, PwC, and AcceleratingBiz, plus additional Summit partners InitialView, Chengdu Shuangliu Innovation & Pioneering Enterprise Services, GTCOM, China Money Network, and Caixin Global, the first Technology and Innovation Summit was a great success, and is now set to be an annual feature on the Chinese tech calendar.
About AmCham China
The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose membership comprises more than 3,300 individuals from 900 companies operating across China. The chamber's nationwide mission is to help American companies succeed in China through advocacy, information, networking and business support services. AmCham China is the only officially recognized chamber of commerce representing American business in mainland China. With offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenyang and Wuhan, AmCham China has more than 50 working groups, and holds more than 250 events each year. Visit our website for more information.
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