Under the theme “Creating the Future,” the event brought together global financial and business leaders, pioneers in science and technology innovation, outstanding young entrepreneurs, and academic experts. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on global economic trends, explored new approaches to technological innovation, and helped build an international platform for youth talent exchange and collaboration.
On the morning of May 9, the 2026 Forbes China Economic Forum was held at the Teaching Theater of the Opera Hall at Sias University.
Distinguished guests attending the forum included Zhuang Jianqiu, Mayor of Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government;Dr Shawn chen, Chairman of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, Chairman of the World Association of University Presidents, and Founder and Chairman of Sias University; Christopher Green, U.S. Consul General in Wuhan; Russell Flannery, former Editor-in-Chief of Forbes China; Liu Tianwen, Chairman and CEO of iSoftStone; Yin Hongbin, Party Secretary of the Henan Association for Science and Technology; Yao Wang, Senior Advisor to the Boao Forum for Asia; Fang Qixiong, Party Secretary of the Henan Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zheng Qiang, Qiushi Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University, former President of Guizhou University, and former Party Secretary of Taiyuan University of Technology; Yang Guang, Vice Director-General of the Henan Provincial Department of Education; Yang Jinjun, Secretary-General of Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government; Wang Huiyao, Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Zheng Bangshan, former Director-General of the Henan Provincial Department of Education; Ma Hongwei, Secretary of the Xinzheng Municipal Committee; Yang Jin, Mayor of Xinzheng Municipal People’s Government; Megan Mattson, Chief of the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan; Tang Min, former Counselor of the State Council; Ren Haiping, Director of the Expert Committee of Peking University’s Institute of International and Strategic Studies; and renowned opera artist Jin Man, Founding Dean of the Opera Research Institute at Peking University.
The forum also welcomed well-known economists, entrepreneurs, policy experts, and representatives, scholars, and leaders from Tsinghua University and other universities across Henan Province and abroad.
Zhuang Jianqiu stated that this forum focuses on core topics such as “technological innovation and the cultivation of new quality productive forces.” He noted that it adopts a global perspective to assess economic trends and uses innovative thinking to address development challenges, closely aligning with Zhengzhou’s ongoing efforts to promote high-quality development.
He expressed the city’s willingness to use the forum as a bridge to strengthen collaboration with entrepreneurs and experts across areas such as technological innovation, industrial upgrading, talent attraction and development, capital connection, and open development, aiming for mutual benefit and shared success.
Zhuang also sincerely welcomed cooperation with Forbes China and friends from all sectors to share development opportunities and jointly create a better future. He emphasized that Zhengzhou will provide the greatest sincerity, the best services, and the strongest support to safeguard business development, ensuring that every investor can start businesses with confidence, operate with peace of mind, and live comfortably in Zhengzhou.
Dr Shawn chen stated that the hosting of the Forbes China Economic Forum at Sias University has provided students with a high-quality platform to engage closely with leading industry experts and gain exposure to cutting-edge knowledge.
He further initiated discussions on key topics such as new drivers of China’s economic growth, local entrepreneurial spirit, talent development in the AI era, and youth development. He expressed hope that all guests would freely share their insights and exchange ideas, allowing the forum to produce meaningful and valuable outcomes.
Russell Flannery stated that the Forbes brand, with a history of more than a century, has long placed strong emphasis on content, innovation, and key areas such as artificial intelligence, prominent entrepreneurs, and philanthropy.
He noted that the hosting of the Forbes China Economic Forum at Sias University aims to bring together wisdom from all sectors to jointly explore new trends and new pathways in global economic development.
The forum featured a rich and diverse agenda, including 12 high-level keynote speeches and 2 high-end roundtable discussions. The topics covered a wide range of fields such as the global economy, artificial intelligence, industrial transformation, international trade, urban development, and financial innovation.
The keynote speech session brought together a distinguished lineup of 12 speakers, each offering insights from diverse fields.
Wang Huiyao analyzed economic opportunities and response strategies amid an increasingly complex global environment. Max Bockus discussed the future of China–U.S. relations and emerging trends in global governance Tang Min shared perspectives on new production and consumption opportunities driven by AI agents. Liu Tianwen elaborated on full-stack intelligence and AI-native practics.
Zheng Qiang examined the impact of AI on society and talent development from a rheology perspective. Zuo Xiaolei, former chief economist of China Galaxy Securities, proposed a China-oriented approach to the high-quality development of cross-border e-commerce. Wu Binzhen, tenured associate professor at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management and Deputy Director of the China Institute for Fiscal and Taxation Research, discussed policy coordination under the dual challenges of aging population and AI.
John Quelch, Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, interpreted the core competitiveness of China’s economy. Wang Wenhao, founder of Shanghai Studio, focused on reshaping urban experiences in the digital era. Wang Chaobin, Chairman of Zhonglu Group, shared pathways for enhancing urban vitality in Zhengzhou. Ren Haiping analyzed breakthroughs and restructuring in the global economy, while Yao Wang explored how new quality productive forces are driving enterprise innovation and development.
The two roundtable discussions focused respectively on industry and finance.
In the first session, centered on industry transformation, participants included Li Zhaoqi, Executive Editor-in-Chief of Forbes China; Shaun Rein, Founder of China Market Research Group; Sarah Coe-Schilling, Managing Partner of Blossom Advisory; Meng Hao, Founder of DaJie Robotics; and Feng Wei, President of the Motion Picture Association China Office. They engaged in in-depth discussions under the theme “Cross-Boundary · Reconstruction · Renewal — Industrial Transformation and Human Imagination in the Wave of Technology,” exploring how technological innovation is reshaping industries and expanding human imagination.
The second session focused on finance and growth. Participants included Russell Flannery, former Editor-in-Chief of Forbes China; Drew Bernstein, Founder of MarcumAsia Consulting; and Zhang Yi, investor of the Non-Sovereign Wealth Fund and Think Tank Preparatory Group. They discussed “Finance and Growth,” examining new models in which capital better serves the real economy and supports technological innovation.
Students at Sias University shared that being able to participate in such a world-class international event on campus, and engage directly with global financial experts and outstanding young entrepreneurial role models, greatly broadened their international perspective and helped them gain clearer thinking about future academic directions and career development.
They also noted that the event not only exposed them to cutting-edge trends in technology and industry, but also allowed them to experience the power of role models firsthand, inspiring their enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship. Throughout the forum, students listened attentively and actively participated in discussions, describing the experience as one of the most valuable and meaningful moments of their university life.
In her address, Chen Qiuqin, Chief Operating Officer of Forbes China, introduced that over the past decade, the Forbes China Under 30 Summit has brought together more than 2,000 outstanding young talents. She noted that this year’s summit is the first time it has been held on a university campus, taking place at Sias University. The initiative aims to connect young entrepreneurs with university students, stimulate innovation, and convey a spirit of courage and conviction.
Chen Xiaochun encouraged young students to cultivate the courage to face uncertainty, the ability to turn ideas into action, and a commitment to continuous learning. He urged them to broaden their horizons through the summit platform and actively participate in shaping the future.
As the host institution of both major international events, Sias University has consistently upheld its distinctive approach to internationalized and open education. The university actively connects with high-quality global resources and is committed to providing students with top-tier, cutting-edge platforms for growth and development.
The successful hosting of the 2026 Forbes China Economic Forum, as well as the first-ever Forbes China Under 30 Summit held on a university campus and hosted by Sias University, not only highlights the institution’s achievements in internationalized education and its comprehensive service capabilities, but also marks a significant milestone in its efforts to integrate global resources, support youth development, and contribute to regional innovation-driven growth.
Looking ahead, Sias University will use this landmark event as a new starting point to further leverage its platform advantages in higher education. The university plans to build more diverse and high-quality platforms for exchange and practical engagement, enabling students to engage with the world, meet inspiring role models, and achieve personal growth without leaving campus.
Through these efforts, the university aims to cultivate high-level applied talents with global vision, innovative spirit, and strong practical capabilities, while making greater contributions to the high-quality development of the regional economy.
