James McGregor

There is a growing perception that barriers to foreign business in China have been fortifying since the global economic crisis pushed the U.S. and Europe into a tailspin and launched China to unplanned stardom on the world stage. For foreign business, increasingly difficult China market access is the immediate worry, and some fear that their onetime Chinese joint-venture partners will now be competing with them globally. But the core concern is rebalancing the economic and political dynamic between China and the developed world. Political and business leaders on both sides of the Pacific need to lift their heads above overwhelming domestic economic and political concerns and seek solutions before things get out of control.

Journalist-turned-businessman James McGregor views China as being simultaneously the world’s largest startup and the world’s largest turnaround. In this speech, McGregor will walk the audience into the middle of the Chinese business world while sharing his insider’s perspective on the politics, the people and China’s changing place in the world order. When it comes to talking about China and business in China, McGregor is a combination of Mark Twain and Tom Peters. He offers compelling and humorous stories that carry very insightful and unique lessons.

China is the world’s second-largest economy, biggest exporter, largest auto manufacturer and auto market. It is the world’s largest energy user as its demand for power has more than doubled in the last decade. China is also funding the US budget deficit. These facts underlie a profound power shift – at least in the mind of Chinese leaders – that has fueled increased Chinese assertiveness in foreign policy and business and trade strategies. These new policies and the accompanying political campaign – hung under the banner of “Indigenous Innovation” — call for all Chinese to roll up their sleeves and complete the mission of catching up with the West in science and technology that began 200 years ago. How is this switch from defense to offense impacting the international companies that compete for business in China, and to what lengths will China go to secure the top slot in global business competition?
 

The Global Financial Crisis has pushed China to the front of the global stage and uncomfortably into the geopolitical spotlight much sooner than anyone, including China, expected. Chinese leaders are now faced with lifting their focus from their overwhelming domestic to-do list and figuring out how to handle a global community that expects China to think about what is best for the entire world. In his speech, James McGregor will describe how he sees this drama unfolding in China, and how China will handle its new role as a world leader.