China is situated in Eastern Asia on the Western shore of the Pacific Ocean and encompasses an area of 9.6 million square kilometers. China’s continental coastline extends along 18,000 kilometers, and its vast sea surface is studded with more than 5,000 islands. More than 1.4 billion people live in China. In 1949, the Communist Party of China established the People’s Republic of China.
Thanks to its reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has become
stronger and stronger in economy, science and technology. The nation’s economy
has been growing rapidly. China’s economy is gradually shifting from a merely
production-oriented to an innovation-led economy. Thus, the Chinese markets
will continue to open up and Chinese companies will internationalize as Western
companies will explore China as a future market and supply source to an even
greater extent.
China is the world’s largest manufacturing economy and exporter of
goods. It is also the world’s fastest-growing consumer market and
second-largest importer of goods. China is a net importer of services products.
It is the largest trading nation in the world and plays a prominent role in
international trade and has increasingly engaged in trade organizations and
treaties in recent years. China became a member of the World Trade Organization
in 2001. Major projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative are testimonial to
China’s long-range plan to play a pivotal role on the geo-political world
stage.
Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia and is bordered by China to the north. 96 million people live in Vietnam. Its capital city is Hanoi.
Vietnam was part of Imperial China for over a millennium, from 111 BC to AD 939. An independent Vietnamese
state was formed in 939.The nation expanded geographically and politically into
Southeast Asia, until the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century. Following a Japanese occupation in the 1940s, the Vietnamese fought French rule in the First Indochina War, eventually expelling the French in 1954. Thereafter, Vietnam was
divided politically into two rival states, North and South Vietnam. Conflict
between the two sides intensified in what is known as the Vietnam War. The war ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.
Vietnam was then unified under
a communist government but remained. In 1986, the government initiated a series of economic and
political reforms which began Vietnam’s path towards integration into the world economy.
By 2000, it had established diplomatic relations with all nations. Since 2000,
Vietnam’s economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world. Its
successful economic reforms resulted in its joining the World Trade Organization in 2007.
Students in their final semester at the ZHAW School
of Management and Law (SML) embark on this study trip to China and Vietnam
following attendance of the seminar “Doing business in Emerging Markets”. The objectives of this study trip are:
- Experience the Chinese and Vietnamese way of life
through real on-site exploration
- Explore the cultural heritage and learn how to
integrate the findings into doing business in emerging markets
- Understand the economic thrust of China and Vietnam
and its neighboring countries
- Learn the first steps to expand one’s individual
business network beyond Switzerland
- Expand the horizon for a future professional
career.
My heartfelt thanks
goes to all organizations, companies and business partners in China and Vietnam
who generously invited our SML student group. We deeply appreciate your
support.
Moreover, I would like to thank the entire student group who co-organized this trip and in particular the core organizing team Fredrik Rüegg (CEO), Jasmin Schleeh (CTO) and Nicola Zimmermann (CFO). We are all looking forward to this no doubt rewarding and memorable journey.
Best wishes
Dr. Markus Braun
ZHAW School of
Management and Law / Zurich University of Applied Sciences
