From 25 to 28 August, Asia School of Business (ASB) successfully hosted the Global Leadership Program (GLP) China leg. The four-day study trip was meticulously planned and personally led by Gillian Ng, Executive Director of Iclif Executive Education Center, who partnered with several industry veterans to provide senior executives from Malaysian government agencies and major financial institutions with an in-depth learning journey in China.
In Shenzhen, the Malaysia delegation first visited Tencent’s headquarters to explore its latest breakthroughs in the Internet of Things, big data, 5G, and AI. Tencent’s management team demonstrated how digital innovation empowers the agricultural economy, enables remote education, and provides telemedicine services. The visiting executives witnessed firsthand how technology is driving social and industrial transformation and gained deeper insights into the role of digitalisation in shaping future business landscapes.
Next, the delegation visited BYD to study its cutting-edge “blade battery” technology and watched an impressive display of BYD’s intelligent electric vehicles. Through the visits and discussions, the executives learned how BYD has leveraged long-term strategy and ongoing innovation to overcome challenges and emerge as a leader in the global new energy vehicle industry.
At UBTech, a leading humanoid robotics company, delegation members interacted with several robots and explored applications in manufacturing, hazardous environments, and public services. The UBTech research team explained how their innovations address labour shortages and workplace safety, offering a new perspective on how robotics and automation drive sustainable industry.
Meanwhile, the programme included a visit to Taikang International Hospital in Qianhai, where the delegation explored smart healthcare solutions and digital patient management systems. They gained insights into how digitalisation can enhance operational efficiency, optimise patient experience, and enable more efficient allocation of medical resources, stimulating new ideas for medical innovation.
In Guilin, the delegation visited Esquel Group, a global leader in textile manufacturing. Through discussions with Esquel’s executives, they learned how the company pursues a sustainable transformation strategy amid international challenges, drives technological upgrades and process innovation, and observes Esquel’s green manufacturing efforts within its park-like production campuses. They also saw how Esquel empowers industry-wide technological innovation, leads breakthroughs in waterless dyeing technology to reduce environmental impact, and maintains a people-centred approach as a core business philosophy.
Additionally, the delegation attended a lecture by Economist Rongsen on “China’s Economic Landscape and Green Finance Development,” gaining insights into China’s latest trends and practices in economic transformation, industrial upgrading, and green finance.
Throughout the programme, Malaysian executives engaged in in-depth exchanges with Chinese entrepreneurs, experts, and scholars on industry trends, innovation, business models, and sustainability strategies. These cross-disciplinary dialogues provided a more comprehensive understanding of China’s innovation ecosystem and laid a solid foundation for future cross-border collaboration.
Beyond business and technology learning, cultural experiences were also arranged. The executives tried their hand at traditional Chinese tie-dye crafts and enjoyed a boat trip along the Li River, gaining a deeper appreciation of China’s cultural heritage and natural beauty.
From Tencent’s digital innovation and BYD’s resilient breakthroughs to UBTech’s value-driven robotics and Taikang’s smart healthcare, as well as Esquel’s sustainable transformation, this four-day study tour offered a frontier perspective at the intersection of business, technology, and sustainability. It broadened the Malaysia delegation’s international horizons and provided new ideas and practical references for navigating uncertainty, embracing innovation, and pursuing sustainable growth.
Translated and Proofread by AI.
Originally published by Xinhua Finance Shao Qun.