From March 19 to 23, 2025, the Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance Belt and Road (BRI) EMBA Program convened its Chengdu course module—a thoughtfully orchestrated immersion combining enterprise visits, advanced coursework, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Designed to foster deep intellectual engagement and cultivate high-level strategic thinking, the module offered students privileged access to cutting-edge innovations, emergent industry trends, and interdisciplinary insights across sectors.
BRI EMBA students at the Chengdu module
Corporate Immersions: Firsthand Insight into Frontier Innovation
Students were welcomed into some of Chengdu's most dynamic enterprises, each offering a unique lens into the technologies and business models reshaping the future.
At the Xinhua Innovation Center in Chengdu’s High-Tech Zone, Li Junjie, Deputy General Manager of Chengdu Gaotou Electronic Information Industry Group, hosted the delegation. CTO Dong Chiyu shared breakthrough developments in embodied robotics and outlined the region’s ambitious policy landscape for innovation and investment. Through in-depth discussions and on-site exploration, students gained a vivid understanding of Chengdu’s rising stature as a nexus of technological advancement and entrepreneurial momentum.
BRI EMBA students at the Xinhua Innovation Center
At the Fosun Chengdu Art Center, Zhang Li, Partner and General Manager of Investment Expansion at Fosun Tourism Group, presented the "pan-tourism" strategy and its growing traction in both consumer behavior and capital markets. In a rich dialogue with students, she analyzed evolving trends in the cultural tourism sector and illuminated opportunities for innovation and investment at the intersection of culture, experience, and destination development.
Zhang Li
A visit to Leascend Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd. offered a compelling view into the future of energy innovation. Students toured state-of-the-art production lines for third-generation HJT solar cells—highly automated, technically sophisticated, and globally competitive. Chairman Wang Xin led a post-tour dialogue exploring the company’s R&D trajectory, strategic positioning, and perspectives on the global photovoltaic landscape. The visit underscored the pace of innovation and the intensifying competitive contours of the clean energy economy.
Wang Xin
Leascend Photovoltaic Technology factory
The final visit brought the students to Aerofugia, a future-facing aviation technology firm under Geely Technology Group. Specializing in low-altitude mobility, Aerofugia focuses on eVTOL aircraft powered by sustainable propulsion systems and intelligent flight control. Students experienced firsthand the practical applications of this new paradigm – from aerial tourism to emergency response - and acknowledged Aerofugia’s pioneering role in shaping the next frontier of urban air transport.
BRI EMBA students experiencing the Aerofugia’s eVTOL aircraft
Academic Immersion: Deepening Strategic Capabilities and Executive Perspective
Complementing the enterprise visits, the Chengdu module featured masterfully curated academic sessions, purpose-built to sharpen analytical acumen and strategic foresight.
Negotiation Strategy: Commanding the Executive Dialogue
André Dória, CEO and Co-Founder of VN Tech and professor at INSEAD and Porto Business School, delivered a masterclass on advanced negotiation strategy. Blending empirical frameworks with immersive simulation, Dória guided students through the complexities of high-stakes negotiation in global business. His pragmatic insights, drawn from extensive international engagements, equipped students with refined techniques for navigating multifaceted dealmaking with clarity, influence, and authority.
André Dória
Macro Strategy and Regional Development: The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Corridor in a Global Context
Professor Tang Jiqiang, Chief Economist and Director of the Think Tank at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, offered an incisive macroeconomic analysis of regional development through the prism of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle and the Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing upon rigorous research and policy expertise, Professor Tang elucidated the intricate interplay between financial security, regional planning, and cross-border collaboration—providing a robust framework for strategic thinking in an era of shifting global alignments.
Tang Liqiang
Peer Exchange: Cross-Pollinating Insight Across Sectors and Cohorts
A highlight of the module was the "Bring Your Insights" series—a cross-cohort forum exploring the theme "DeepSeek and AI Trends." Students from the fourth, fifth, and sixth BRI EMBA cohorts shared sector-specific perspectives on the evolving trajectory of artificial intelligence. These candid discussions illuminated AI's divergent applications across industries, expanding students’ conceptual toolkit for innovation leadership in their own domains.
Students who spoke at the "DeepSeek and AI Trends" exchange session
At the Sichuan Alumni Exchange, distinguished alumni from across industries gathered to reflect on their entrepreneurial journeys and strategic decision-making. Zou Kang, Chairman of Deshang Real Estate, He Kai, Chairman and President of Prime International Holdings, and Tang Shen, Chairman of Shentang Group, each shared stories of transformation, growth, and resilience. Their insights – rooted in experience yet forward-looking – offered valuable lessons in navigating uncertainty, seizing market opportunities, and creating enduring enterprise value.
Zou Kang
He Kai
A Platform for Global Leadership
The BRI EMBA Chengdu module underscores the program’s commitment to experiential excellence, interdisciplinary insight, and global perspective. Through immersive enterprise engagement, world-class instruction, and collaborative exchange, students emerged with sharpened strategic vision, enriched industry intelligence, and an expanded peer network.
Tsinghua PBCSF remains steadfast in its mission: to empower global leaders who shape markets, mobilize innovation, and steward enterprises toward lasting impact in an interconnected world.
