Programme

9.00am – 6.00pm

Forum Registration at midtown shangri-la

8.30am – 12.30pm

Corporate Visit to Hangzhou Hi-tech Zone (for international delegates and speakers only)

6.30pm – 9.30pm

Cocktail Reception for International Delegates and Speakers

7.00am – 8.00am

Forum Registration

8.30am – 10.15am

Opening Ceremony (main hall)

This session opens with special keynote messages from the Chinese Government representatives international VIPs, co-hosts and the official organiser.

Welcoming Address – Mr. Cheah Chyuan Yong

Chairman of International Strategy Institute (ISI)

Special Keynote Address – The Hon. CY Leung

Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Former Chief Executive of HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China

*Other VVIPs to be announced

10.15am – 11.15am

The Future of Global Trade (main hall)

As uncertainly looms following the trade dispute between China and the US, the world economy suffers. High tariff barriers continue to hurt not only the economies of both countries, but other countries globally. The free trade framework is at its breaking point. What trade deal can best work for both countries and salvage the free trade framework? What are the challenges and opportunities for the global business community?

11.15am – 12.15pm

5G and The Tech Wave – Embracing the Next Frontier (main hall)

The race for technological advancement between nations not only has economic, but also security implications for nations. Just like its 4G predecessor, the roll-out of 5G technology, will involve patents of tremendous monetary value as well as massive data reservoir that creates a lot of security uncertainties. As tech giants lead the pack in building the 5G infrastructure globally, will security be a concern? What does 5G roll-out entail? Can 5G be implemented with safety nets on privacy? What are the business opportunities available in the 5G revolution?

12.15pm – 1.30pm

community power lunch

2.00pm – 3.00pm

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – Redefining Global Trade (room A)

BRI remains one of China’s most ambitious global projects to connect regions and continents with each other through an intricate trade network involving road, rail and sea routes. Involving 152 countries spanning across Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, an estimated USD4 trillion are set to be invested in infrastructure corridors of 65 countries representing 75% of the world’s population, 55% of its GNP and 75% of its energy reserves. This is bound to drastically reshape global trade within the Eurasian region. But concerns over ‘debt trap’ continue to hamper efforts. Are these concerns justified? What is the actual mechanism of infrastructure investments? What are the business opportunities available under BRI? Where is BRI going from here?

Ensuring Business Integrity amidst BRI Expansion (room b)

As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to expand and make inroads in key countries across the region, the demand for accountability, business integrity and good governance is as important as ever. What are the key indicators for good governance in BRI implementation? What are the main challenges to implementing integrity? What are the practical solutions for policymakers to mitigate leakages and corruption?

3.00pm – 4.00pm

Future of Media in a Digital World (room A)

In an age of information overload due to digital advancement, trust is a scarce currency. The rapid development of digital technology comes with a similar surge of fake news around the world, with the capacity of debilitating whole nations, vilifying people, cultures and religions at alarming speed, thereby precipitating the incidences of terrorism, hate crime, bigotry and other negative repercussions. Just as technology can create devastation, it can also become a force for good. How can technology be used to combat fake news in the digital future? What will the future of media look like in the next decade?

Future Forward : Exploring New Technologies and Its Impact on the World (room b)

This thought-provoking session brings forth all the existing and upcoming disruptive technologies and how it will impact the world we live in, the drastic changes we need to face and the business opportunities that it brings.

4.00pm – 5.00pm

ASEAN Panel – Strengthening the Long-term Partnership between China and ASEAN (room a)

Two-way trade between China and ASEAN grew by 14.1 percent to a record USD587.87 billion in 2018, compared to 2017. China has been ASEAN’s top trading partner for 10 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China’s third largest trading partner, after the European Union and the United States, for eight years in a row. The gap between China-ASEAN trade volumes and China-US trade volumes narrowed significantly by about 33 percent from USD68.9 billion in 2017 to USD457 billion in 2018. This shows huge potential for the partnership to grow further especially in the midst of the protectionist mood in the West. What could be done to step-up trade between China and ASEAN? What are the institutions and policies to focus on? What are the promising business opportunities to look out for in the next decade?

6.30pm – 10.00pm

WCEF GALA DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY