As Chinese enterprises pivot from traditional export models to building comprehensive global ecosystems, the strategic road map for this expansion took centre stage in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Gathering at the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong for the 2026 SCMP C-Suite Annual Leadership Summit, CEOs and business leaders from Hong Kong, China and across the region, convened to dissect the “China Inc. Goes Global” phenomenon. The closed-door forum, organised by the South China Morning Post, provided a rare venue for off-the-record discussions on navigating volatile markets and leveraging Hong Kong as a strategic springboard for cross-border ambitions.
“Going global has evolved from simple product exports to a holistic endeavour of brand building and ecosystem development,” noted Sunny Shang, President of Huawei Cloud APAC, the summit’s presenting partner. He added that such expansion is “no longer an option, but a strategic imperative for long-term growth”.
Capitalising on new markets
Following welcoming remarks by SCMP Chief Growth Officer Ang Jin, the agenda shifted to the mechanics of this global push through two in-depth and candid fireside chats with SCMP Publisher Tammy Tam.
Carlson Tong, Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, sat down with Tam and offered perspectives on how regional companies are positioning themselves for new fundraising opportunities and cross-border investment in 2026 and beyond. Adding to the financial outlook, Hong Kong Investment Corporation CEO Clara Chan joined Tam to detail the strategic deployment of “patient capital”. Chan highlighted the fund’s impact – having backed over 200 projects with its initial HK$62 billion capital – and outlined future growth phases following the 2026-27 Budget Speech. Both speakers engaged in a lively dialogue with Tam and took questions from the floor, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to interact directly and gain valuable insights.
Lessons from the front lines
A focal point of the evening was a deep dive into the practical realities of international scaling with Gui Shengyue, CEO of Geely Automobile Holdings. In an interview with SCMP Chief Development Officer Eugene Tang, Gui unpacked the lessons learned during Geely’s 20-year global journey, detailing experiences ranging from landmark acquisitions to establishing operations from the ground up.
To take the pulse of the room, the summit leveraged interactive live polling, sparking a spirited conversation among the gathered executives regarding the realities of international expansion. Asked to describe their economic outlook for 2026, many participants stressed volatility and uncertainty – but a significant majority still held a favourable view of Hong Kong remaining the top place for companies to raise funds and support their growth in 2026.
When asked what they viewed as the biggest challenge to growing abroad, most cited geopolitics, followed by people, and cultural differences – symbolising the complexity of international expansion in the current environment. Nonetheless, they strongly agreed that Hong Kong serves as an effective “super-connector” for Chinese companies expanding internationally, helping to mitigate these challenges.
Ultimately, the discussions underscored a collective push among business leaders to build alliances that will set the agenda for the future, cementing Hong Kong and Asia’s unique strengths in driving China’s next era of global champions.
The forum was held exclusively for the SCMP C-Suite community that connects Asian CEOs and industry game-changers, providing in-person access and unparalleled intelligence on China’s evolving economic landscape.
