In an exclusive interview, China Europe International Business School, or CEIBS, President Wang Hong delved into the school's pivotal mission of fostering cooperation between China and Europe following the announcement that CEIBS' Global EMBA program clinched top spot in the Financial Times 2024 EMBA Ranking.

This historic achievement, coinciding with CEIBS' 30th anniversary, marks a significant milestone for the institution, positioning it as the premier business school on the Chinese mainland to lead the FT's international rankings.

"As CEIBS celebrates our 30th anniversary, this accolade serves as a clarion call for the pursuit of excellence," Wang said, emphasizing the school is striving to become one of the most respected international business schools in the world.

Co-founded in 1994 by the Chinese government and the European Union, CEIBS is dedicated to cultivating business leaders versed in the school's core offering of "China Depth, Global Breadth", evident in its extensive network of more than 30,000 alumni spanning 91 countries and regions worldwide.

"At the core of CEIBS' ethos lies the facilitation of cooperation and exchange between China and Europe," said Wang, also a professor of management at CEIBS, underscoring the institution's unique position as the only business school jointly established by the Chinese government and the European Union.

With a steadfast focus on global engagement, CEIBS has hosted numerous international academic forums and seminars, drawing in top scholars, professors and entrepreneurs from around the world. The school's initiatives, such as the Europe Forum, launched in 2012, have served as high-level platforms for bilateral economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.

The most recent session of the CEIBS Europe Forum took place on Tuesday in both Brussels and Shanghai in collaboration with the EU-China Business Association and China Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

In her welcome speech, Wang set the forum's tone by emphasizing the twin engines propelling the global economy: disruptive technological advancements and a redefined form of globalization.

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshaping business paradigms worldwide through technologies like artificial intelligence, Wang stressed the urgency of fostering an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial global landscape, with China and Europe at the helm.

50th anniversary

Wang noted that next year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations.

"Over the past half-century, although China-Europe relations have experienced twists and turns, they have continued to deepen and solidify," Wang said. "Even in the challenging global trade environment of 2023, the total bilateral trade volume between China and Europe reached $783 billion, with approximately $1.5 million in trade flowing every minute."

Business leaders from China and Europe have embodied the principles of openness, cooperation, and pragmatism, establishing numerous successful collaboration models, Wang continued.

"Trade and cultural partnerships between China and Europe are not only vital for the well-being of both regions but also for global peace and stability," she said.

"As an exemplar of successful cooperation between China and the EU, CEIBS will persist in its role as a conduit for friendship and collaboration between China and Europe, fostering a platform for worldwide economic and cultural exchanges while contributing valuable insights to the advancement of the global business world."