The 9th Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Gala and the China Entrepreneur Club’s 20th-anniversary events took place in Shenzhen from 11 to 13 January 2026. The main forum was held at Qianhai International Conference Centre on 12 January. Attendees included Dai Yunlong, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress; Wang Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and head of its United Front Work Department; and Wang Hongbin, vice chairman of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPPCC. Business leaders included TCL founder and chairman Li Dongsheng, iFlytek founder and chairman Liu Qingfeng, Ping An Group president Xie Yonglin, and XPeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng.
Dandan Fei, a partner at Guantao Law Firm, attended the gala’s programme.
Jointly organised by the Shenzhen business association and the China Entrepreneur Club as both marked their 20th anniversaries, the programme included a main forum on the future of Chinese business, industry meetings, a China–EU economic cooperation forum and company visits. Jiang Changjian, associate professor at Fudan University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs, moderated the main forum.
Keynotes by Li Dongsheng, Liu Qingfeng and He Xiaopeng
Li Dongsheng, chairman of the China Entrepreneur Club and founder and chairman of TCL, delivered a keynote reviewing two decades of change in Chinese industry and international business. He discussed how overseas operations had expanded from product exports to the international deployment of business models, industrial capabilities and supply chains, alongside investment in research and cooperation between enterprises.
Liu Qingfeng addressed the development of artificial general intelligence. He outlined iFlytek’s work on independently developed foundation models, compatibility with domestic computing infrastructure and open platforms, and discussed the requirements for applying AI across industries.
He Xiaopeng discussed XPeng’s research in autonomous driving, intelligent robots and flying cars, including how large AI models were changing technical approaches. Drawing on the company’s development work, he examined the adaptations required for robots to operate in factories and homes, as well as potential uses for flying cars.
Business perspectives from finance, retail and life sciences
Xie Yonglin, deputy Party secretary and president of Ping An Group, discussed financial services for the real economy, including the use of financial technology and supply-chain finance in technological innovation, green development and advanced manufacturing.
Zhang Wenzhong, founder of Wumart and Dmall, discussed the digitalisation of retail, with examples covering supply-chain changes, integration of online and offline operations, and customer services.
Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, addressed the life sciences sector and the application of genomics and biomanufacturing in disease prevention and health management.
Lin Feng, deputy Party secretary and general manager of Luzhou Laojiao, discussed product quality, brand continuity and business adjustments in response to younger consumers.
Ma Weihua, former president of China Merchants Bank, addressed sustainable development and the integration of environmental, social and governance considerations into business and investment decisions. Lin Li, chairman of Liye Group and the Shenzhen business community’s charitable foundation, also took part in the exchanges.
Cao Dewang addresses the China–EU Economic Cooperation Forum
The China–EU Economic Cooperation Forum was held at Qianhai International Conference Centre on 11 January as part of the gala, focusing on investment in Shenzhen and business expansion into Europe. Cao Dewang, founder and lifetime honorary chairman of Fuyao Glass, delivered a keynote drawing on the company’s overseas manufacturing operations. He discussed respect for local cultures, locally based management and participation in host communities.
Cao also discussed manufacturing talent and Fuyao University of Science and Technology’s approach to applied and interdisciplinary education. Two roundtables examined prospects for China–Europe market cooperation and Shenzhen–Switzerland cooperation, covering overseas compliance, localisation, financial technology and tourism.
Li Xiaoye, general manager of Nanshan’s Go Global service centre, introduced its business, legal, financial, tax and administrative services and arrangements for connecting companies with service providers.
The programme also included meetings on AI hardware, new energy and life sciences, alongside visits by Chinese and overseas entrepreneurs to Shenzhen companies and industrial parks. Dandan Fei attended related activities and exchanged views with fellow participants.
