The following insights are taken from a keynote speech given by Professor of Economics and Finance Xu Bin at the CEIBS Global EMBA Economic Outlook 2026 on January 17. Professor Xu diagnoses the difficulties currently facing the Chinese economy, suggesting three strategic directions for rebalancing and transforming its long-term fortunes.

As China prepares to roll out its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), global investors, multinational corporations, and financial institutions are watching for signs about the country’s economic direction. The Plan is more than a policy manifesto; it is a strategic instrument that will shape how capital is allocated, how industries evolve, and how both domestic and international firms interpret China’s long-term political commitments.

At the beginning of 2026, Elon Musk captured global attention in a three-hour conversation with Peter Diamandis and Dave Blundin on the Moonshots podcast, where he laid out an ambitious vision of humanity’s future. How credible are these seemingly far-fetched predictions, and what do they mean for ordinary people?

In this article, CEIBS Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship Daniel Chng examines the key challenges Chinese enterprises face in going global, and solutions that can help them build global competitiveness.
 

From Silicon Valley to Europe and China, 2025 saw a wave of global layoffs at many high-profile companies, many of which were attributed to artificial intelligence. But is AI really the main culprit? And if so, what human skills are still needed in the rapidly developing AI era?

Over the past year, China’s economy has become strikingly divergent. On the one hand, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, new energy, and high-end manufacturing have continued at a rapid pace, with innovation momentum building across key sectors. At the same time, consumption and investment have remained sluggish, general price levels have declined for the third consecutive year, and overall macroeconomic indicators point to persistent downward pressure.

In October 2025, Walmart announced a landmark partnership with OpenAI to bring shopping directly into ChatGPT. Through a new Instant Checkout feature, Walmart customers can browse, select, and complete purchases entirely within the ChatGPT interface, with Walmart managing fulfilment.

In the business world, an executive’s waistline can be an intangible asset. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun serve as powerful extensions of their companies’ brand identity; shedding pounds and getting fitter can project a more professional and credible image.

On October 15, 2025, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced the cancellation of 80 drug registration certificates, including well-known products such as loratadine tablets.

At the CEIBS Annual Forum 2025, recently held on the CEIBS Shanghai campus, 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and member of the American National Academy of Sciences Michael Levitt shared wide-ranging perspectives on evolutionary biology, the creativity of youth, artificial intelligence, and personal development, in a keynote speech entitled “How Should Humanity Navigate the Era of Great Intelligence?

At the recent CEIBS EMBA 30th Anniversary Celebration, Kevin Kelly, the Founding Executive Editor of WIRED and author of "2049: Possibilities of the Next 10,000 Days", delivered a keynote speech, painting a picture of a future in which humans live alongside AI.

Artificial intelligence has become the defining force in today’s financial markets — powering innovation, reshaping industries, and driving valuations. But are the soaring valuations justified, or are we entering an AI-fueled bubble? In this article, CEIBS professors Mattia Landoni and Wang Renxuan explore what's driving current market behaviour and how investors and policymakers should prepare.

Middle age is often regarded as a stage of life that is full of challenges. We’ve all heard the term "midlife crisis", which many people go through and can entail feelings of confusion, exhaustion, and even disillusionment with the lives that we have built for ourselves.

China’s dominance of key new energy industries, from electric vehicles to solar power, has been swift and dramatic, taking many of its trading partners by surprise.

Alibaba’s recent sharp share-price rise turned heads for a simple reason: the company is changing what it is. On the surface, the rebound rides on better momentum in on-demand delivery, instant retail, and cloud services. At a deeper level, it shows Alibaba moving from “a giant online mall” to a tech backbone that powers other businesses, with cloud technology, data, and artificial intelligence at the center.

Luckin Coffee’s recent expansion into the US marks the culmination of a remarkable comeback.

CEIBS Prof. Han Jian on the future of China's welfare system

Given such an uncertain US trade landscape, countries big and small may benefit from a more patient and unified approach, rather than rushing to Washington every time the Trump administration releases a new tariff chart.